An Outline comparing Iran and the West
Heroes
West
Iran
Pip
King Arthur
Rustam
Ali Baba
Brave
Source of Power= Divine
Inspiration/ Deeds
Brave
Lucky
Source of Power = Deeds
Does not earn reward
Rather dull minded
Learns from his mistakes
Looses everything
Does not deserve the
treasure
Never presents a teachable
moment to the reader
Reader learns from greed of
brother
Founding Fathers
Khomeini
Established legacy of
supreme power
George Washington
Established Legacy of
limited Power
Used revolution to
seize power
Rejected Kingship
when offered position
Religious/ law
background
Religious/ Educated
Educated
Political/ Military
Background
No military
background
Father of his country
Obama/ United
States
Secular upbringing
Current National Leaders
Khamenei/ Iran
Political career
Political career
Religious
upbringing
Grew up without
father
Educated in
secular
university
1 term as
senator
Elected
President for 2
terms
Community
Organizer
Followed
Council of
father, went to
Revolution
religious school
1979
Learned from
secular teachers
Stimulus
Appointed
President in
1981
Obamacare
Liberal
Democrat
Acting Chair of
Revolutionary
Guard
Appointed
Supreme
Leader 1989
Supports Gay
marriage
criticized for foriegn
policy
radicalized by
teaching of Qutb
Traditional
views