SJS3 - "Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900-89): The Uprising of Khurdad 15, 1979"

Source:
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. "The Uprising of Khurdad 15, 1979"  Internet Modern History Sourcebook 1979.

Author Credentials:
He taught in the major Shi'ite  theological school at Qom. He was exiled for his opposition to the government of the Shah. He lived in Paris after 1978 and orchestrated the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran. He became the political and religious leader until his death, in 1989.

Summary:
The author argues that the overthrowing of the Shah regime was due to Islam, and anyone who thinks otherwise is ignorant. This was at the point in history when more and more countries began to become westernized, so the author is trying to remind the reader of the roots of victory for the Muslim people. It is a fight against the western powers' and scholars' attempts to undermine the importance of Islam in the Middle East's history, a fight against ethnocentrism and orientalism. The author also argues that the people of the Middle East should not westernize themselves, and that the people of the west lead empty lives. This is a call for nationalism and a call to return to their roots, or jihad.

Analysis:
The author does make a strong argument, although it is lacking in substantial evidence in the form of fact. There are many assumptions in the text. For example, the author explains that only lower-class Muslims fought against the tyranny. This is a sweeping generalization, and most likely not true. The author's opinions and facts do seem muddled at times, and there is a heavy amount of bias, so the author may not be a reliable source, but the argument and message is strong and clear. Because this is a calling and therefore not very scientific, it does not need to have hard facts to move its readers. It only needs to invoke emotion and call to action, which it accomplishes. All in all, although the supporting content of the argument is weak, the message is powerful enough to get its point across.