It seems as if your professor was an expatriate with an agenda because you show a distinct lack of education regarding Iran: The Iranian Constitutional Revolution of 1906 declared Islam the countries official religion and all laws to be reviewed by Shi'a clergy; Shi'ism was the religion of 90% of the population as well as a major source of cultural identity. The Shah's were expected to promote and adhere to the Twelver Shi'a Islam, however they chose to marginalize the clergy in favor of Westernizing Iran. It is ignorantly ironic you refer to walking "the streets without religious nutbags caneing u or worse" because the Shah's secret police, SAVAK, was renowned for it's savagery.
The 1978 Iranian (Islamic) Revolution was unique in that it involved no great defeat in battle, peasant uprising, disgruntled military etc. and rather a return to the Shi'a constitution effectively abandoned by the Shah. The Shah was largely seen as a Western puppet and oppressive ruler; most Iranians enthusiastically welcomed his deposing.
As for "hey raghead go blow yourself up in that pizza joint", violence in the name of religion, is that not frighteningly similar to how you trained the mujahideen? Do not forget al'Qaeda's rank and file were drawn largely from ex-mujahideen forces. If you consider them a threat it is only fair to also consider who created that threat
