Monday, January 8, 2007
Images of Afghanistan
Khaled Hosseini vividly describes Afghanistan, both the privileged world of Amir's childhood and the stricken country under the Taliban. How did his descriptions differ from ideas that you may already have had about Afghanistan? What cultural differences become evident in the American passages of the novel? How easy do the Afghans find it to settle in the U.S.? Compare the social structures of Amir's life in Afghanistan vs. those he encounters in America.
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First of all I had no clue that the Taliban started to take over not long ago. I thought that this is how their country has always been. It really surprised me that they have normal childhoods and that they do the same things that we might do as children. The cultural differences were the way they handled coming into a new country. Afghans found it pretty easy to settle in the U.S. They found really smart ways to make money (the bargain shops and stuff like that). In American Amir is all about finishing school and becoming a great writer. His father who was a really great man in Afghanistan becomes a gas station clerk in the United States and still finds ways to adjust. In Afghanistan Amir had many friends and he was always with Hassan playing outside. During the start of his time in America, he really never had any friends other than his father. I think in America Amir was just trying to finish his education and do what he planned on doing for a very long time and that is to become a great writer.
This is why I love this book! The vivid descriptions about a place so destroyed by war yet so enriched with culture that the reader can actually taste the naan, see the pomagranate tree with "Amir and Hassan: Sultans of Kabul" engraved in it's trunk, and sense the silence of Baba when Amir enters the room. What is happening to this country is something that many people presume has been happening for only a short while, thanks to the news coverage that engulfs our t.v. screens every night. This tragedy has existed for many more years than that. Amir's twelve-year-old self lives in a time when family honor meant everything: one did not marry for love, but for family name and reputation; missionary positions where given to those of substantial reputaion. When Amir and Baba were forced to flee to America due to the war, America opened a whole different door to the meaning of culture: no matter your status, if you work hard, you will have the "American dream", one does marry for love, and not having children does not mean you are a failure at life. It takes adjustment for the pair at first, but they manage to find their way in America, as millions of other immigrants do each day. This novel is a portrait that should be dedicated to anyone who wanted to begin a life somewhere else in the world.
The descriptions of Afghanistan do not differ from what I thought it would look like. This conflict in Afghanistan with the Taliban has been going on since before I was born, so I have grown-up with these images on TV and in books.
It did not matter how rich and influencial Baba was when he came to America, Amir and himself had to start their whole lives over almost, in a totally differant place than that of what they knew and without them knowing anyone, or anyone knowing them at the time.
Much of what I read in the novel about Afghanistan was previously learned. I knew the history of the country and the daily hardships that occured, along with the varied standard of living between the classes. This, however, did not prepare me for some of the scenes from the chapters in which Amir and Baba were escaping. I was also shocked to read about the situations that occured when Amir returned to Kabul. I knew that times were harsh, but not that harsh.
I believe that Amir and Baba's stay in the US was extremely pleasant compared their past experiences. I was somewhat surprised to read about lack of difficulty they faced as they moved in. I figured it would have been a lot more worse.
Well, when I saw the movie Team America, it gave me a bad description of Afghanistan. Now from reading the book I know it is nothing like that. When they described Kabul, it was suburban and there wasn't poverty. They do not actually say Dirka Dirka Jihad. They should sue they makers of Team America.
When I read most books I don't remember descriptions but in this book the description of Afghanistan after the take over stuck with me. The tanks rolling down the streets and gun turrets captured my attention. It made me think of how dramatic the change was in Afghanistan. It also made think about how that could happen anywhere in the world even America. Its very easy to destroy a country's way of life and very hard to rebuild it.
I pictured Afghanistan as a war torn country that was in shambles. I saw the country as a headquarter for terrorists and as a mass piece of desert that was always hot and had some sort of battles or war going on at all times. Now after reading Kite Runner I view it as a normal county with different ways of doing things. Like Amina I was surprised to read the things Amir and Hassan did for fun, because it was a lot like America. Another thing I did not know about Afghanistan that is random is that it snowed there. I didn’t know that. I guess their winter is like our summer and vise versa that would be a huge change for some Americans. Amir and Baba find it very easy to settle in the U.S. it’s just a little different because in Afghanistan Baba was very wealthy and well known but now in America they are middle class people who have to start their lives all over again. While in America Amir is not very social and is just focused on finishing his education and strengthening his writing skills. In Afghanistan he is always playing outside and always with friends.
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