The Man Who Changed the World

The Islamic Revolution is depicted in this video, i think better than any text book could tell it. This being an occurrence of the late 70's early 80's everything was video taped and I think it helped me understand the whole weight of the situation better because I was able to learn about it while watching real footage and hearing the story first hand from the people who were involved.
This video made my sympathize with Jimmy Carter, although in the beginning of the video I didn't find it all that shocking that there would be an uprising against American imperialism disguised as a monarchy under the Shah who basically did nothing. Granted, I understand how this arrangement benefits America but after having studied the history of the Middle East, I do not find it at all surprising that there would be a revolution because of this.
Although at first i thought perhaps America, morally, is at fault here, when the students seized the American embassy I felt a line had been crossed. This is when I began to sympathize with Carter. Despite his efforts, the odds were never on his side. At the end of the documentary when it was explained how it was the first time a foreigner was able to influence an American election and humiliate a US president, I really began to feel sorry for him because although I knew he only served one term and had therefore lost the election Reagan, I felt that he put some serious effort into the situation. This issue in Iran spans the entirety of his term. When you think Jimmy Carter, you think Iran.
Khomeini on the other hand, I find fascinating. For one man in the modern world to cause such an enormous revolution to me was astonishing to watch. The really footage of the events of the revolution took me back. The amount of support he had showed the majority without a doubt. It is mind boggling to think that an entire countries majority is that unhappy with the way their state is being run. To me it seemed to be almost like French Revolution status. I found this revolution interesting and didn't feel a bias towards it at all, until the episode with the hostages at the American Embassy in Tehran. This is a situation that as an American hits you in the heart and can create a bias. Those poor people were pushed around by Iranians for 15 months and there was so little that could be done about it. And the fact that they waiting 5 mins after Reagan was sworn in was so humiliating to Carter. I find it unfortunate that Carter basically spent his whole term handling the issues in Iran and a large majority of it was designated to the hostage situation, yet the foreign leaders deliberately wouldn't free them until Carter was no longer responsible.