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Kite Runner #1 : How Ali gets in Baba's family.
In 1933, Ali was brought into Baba's family. Baba's father, who was a judge, had a case that 2 people killed a Hazara couple. When the son of the couple was orphaned, "... my (Amir) grandfather adopted him into his own household, and told the other servants to tutor him, but to be kind to him. That boy was Ali." (pg 24,25) I thought that this quote was important, because it shows the history of Ali and Baba's family. It shows that Baba's household had truely cared for Ali for a long time. -
Kite Runner #2 : Amir is supported to be a writer. #1
While reading a book for Hassan, Amir starts to make of his own story. When Hassan says he loved the book, Amir made his own book. Hassan had a great review of the book. His review was,
" 'Some day, Inshallah, you will be a great writer,' Hassan said.
'And people all over the world will read your stories.' " (pg 33)
I thought this quote was important, because this is the real starting line of Amir's career as a writer. It shows about how Hassan's review became a motivation for his career. -
Kite Runner #3 : Amir's win, but Hassan's loss.
Amir wins the kite competition, which he had been preparing for a long time with Hassan. When Amir won, Hassan runs the kite for him. However, when Hassan gets the kite, Assef and his gang jump him. Hassan was abused by them, and Amir didn't help. He says, "In the end, I ran. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me." (pg 77) Amir and Hassan were partners, but one had a win, and other a loss. This was important, because it shows that Hassan was willing to sacrifice himself for Amir. -
Kite Runner #4 : Amir is supported to be a writer #2
For his 13th birthday, Amir received a lot of presents, but he regards all of them as blood gifts, except for a notebook that Rahim Khan has given him. Rahim Khan says he gave the notebook to Amir "For your stories," (pg 100) I thought that this was an important part of the book because this was another time that Amir was inspired to be a writer. Amir also kept this notebook he used for his stories for a long time. -
Kite Runner #5 : Ali and Hassan leaves Baba.
After the kite contest incident, Hassan started acting very reclusive, and Ali noticed it. After Hassan told Ali about what happened, Ali tells Baba, "We are leaving, Agha Sahib, we can't live here anymore. Life here is impossible for us now." (pg 106)This is an important part of the book, because Amir has put an end to a 42 year relationship between Baba and Amir, just because he was afraid to atone to Hassan about what happened when Hassan was running the kite for him. -
Soviet Union Invasion.
The Soviet Invasion started in 12/27/1979. "Three decades ago, Afghanistan was a stable, relatively prosperous and relatively secular country." However, the Soviet Union Invaded Kabul, Afghanistan to "help" Babrak Karmal who was the president of Afghanistan. The truth is, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to replace Hafizullah Amin, who was a leader that lost the Soviet Union's trust. -
Kite Runner #6 : Baba and Amir escapes from Afghanistan.
What had happened so far was a flashback into the past. Now in 1981, Baba and Amir can be seen leaving Afghanistan. They say that they are leaving Afghanistan because, " You couldn't trust anyone in Kabul anymore." (pg 112) I thought that this quote was important, because this shows the separation of Baba and Amir from Kabul. This is the cause of Amir going to America and living a better life. -
Kite Runner #7 : Amir meets Soraya.
This is 1984, in Fremont, California. As Baba and Amir are working in a flea market, Baba meets an old friend, named general Taheri. Amir develops an instant crush for the general's daughter. Amir says, "My heart stuttered at the thought of her. Soraya Taheri. My Swap Meet Princess." I thought that this was important because Soraya Jan causes a big influence on Amir when they get married, like taking care of Sohrab. -
Kite Runner #8 : Baba falls ill.
It is said that Baba caught a cold, and later on Amir has caught Baba coughing blood. When Amir finally get Baba to go to the hospital with him, they find at that Baba had cancer. Amir says, "Baba's was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma'.Advanced. Inoperable." (pg 156) Baba refused to accept any treatment for his cancer. I thought that this was important, because so far in Amir's life, Baba has been the one that watched out for Amir, and now that Baba would soon die, Amir would be alone. -
Kite Runner #9 : Soraya and Amir gets married.
As Baba's illness gets deeper and deeper, Baba wishes Amir to get married, so Baba asks General Taheri for his daughter's hand in marriage. Amir's thoughts quote," We all agreed that Soraya and I would forgo the Shirini-khori. Everyone knew the reason, so no one had to actually say it: that Baba didn't have months to live." This part of the book is important because Soraya Jan turns out to being a big influence to Amir when Baba dies. -
Kite Runner #10 : Baba passes away.
After Baba sees Amir getting married, baba's health declines rapidly. When Baba himself finds that he will die, he says, "Not tonight, there is no pain tonight." (pg 173) I thought that this quote was important because it shows how wise Baba was. Let his son marry first, then die. This also troubled Amir, because all his life, he has been with Baba. -
Soviet Union Withdrawal.
The Soviet Union withdrew their final troops from Afghanistan in the February of 1989 after peace talks with the United Nations. The Soviet Union completely devastated the country and wasted billions of rubles. When the Soviet Union left, Afghanistan left a place for Islamic Extremists like Osama Bin Laden, and the Al Qaeda. -
The rising of the Taliban.
After the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, it left a place for the Taliban to rule the country. The Taliban started off as a student group to purify the country, started by Mohammed Omar. He was a pashtun, which was the dominant racial group in Afghanistan. Mullah Omar and the Taliban was supported by the Pakistani Intelligence officers to conquer all of Afghanistan. -
Clutch of the Taliban.
By 1996, the Taliban conquered all of Afghanistan. The Taliban has created strict enforcements of Islamic law. It has also created a safe haven for Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda, which came to Afghanistan by 1996. -
Kite Runner #11 : Rahim Khan wants Amir.
It turns out again that the whole thing was a flash back. It is 2001 now, and Amir unexpectedly gets a phone call from Rahim Khan. He is dying, and Rahim Khan wants Amir in Afghanistan. He says, "Come. There is a way to be good again." (pg 192) This shows that Rahim Khan knew about what had happened in the winter of 1975. This quote was important, because it drew Amir to his old self in Kabul. -
Kite Runner #12 : Lies and Decisions.
Rahim Khan and Amir meets in Afghanistan. Rahim Khan is glad to see Amir, but he tells Amir a secret that Amir and Hassan were actually half brothers, and that Hassan died a couple months before. Amir blows up, but when Rahim Khan asked Amir to find Hassan's son Amir then, " ... told him I was going to Kabul."(pg 227) to find Sohrab. I thought that this was important because, this is the part of the story where Amir actually gets a chance to atone for his sins towards Hassan. -
Kite Runner #13 : Amir finds Assef.
Amir learns that Sohrab is in possession of a Taliban leader. The Taliban leader seems to recognizes Amir. It turns out that the Taliban leader was Assef. Assef is very racist, and says "Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage." (pg 284) Amir and Assef has a fight for Sohrab, and Sohrab blinds one eye of Assef. I thought that this was important, because Sohrab finally has a chance of a new life, and Amir gets to atone. -
Kite Runner #14 : Difficulties finding visas.
When Amir wanted to take Sohrab to the U.S, he finds out that " Muslim nations are hesitant with adoptions because in many of those countries, Islamic law, doesn't recognize adoption." (pg 338) Amir tells Sohrab that, and Sohrab tries to commit suicide. I thought that this was important, because it shows that Sohrab really wants to stay with Amir and have a good future even thought he doesn't it in words. -
Post 9/11 Invasion
President George W. Bush ordered the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden after the 9//1 attack. The Taliban refused to consequently U.S troops joined forces with anti-Taliban groups, and drove the Taliban out of most major Afghan cities by the end of the 2001 Al Qaeda & the Taliban escaped to the mountains of Pakistan. -
The New Government
In December of 2001, Hamid Karzai, who was the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was appointed chairman of the new government that replaced the Taliban. -
Kite Runner #15 : For you, a thousand times over.
It is 2002, and Sohrab is finally in the U.S. People were kite flying, and Amir teaches Sohrab how to kite fight. When Sohrab cuts his first kite, Amir says, "For you, a thousand times over," (pg 371.) He has said what Hassan had said to him in the winter of 1975. Amir was finally atoning for his sins almost 30 years later, so this seemed like an important quote to me. -
Presidency begins in Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai was elected as interim president of Afghanistan in June of 2002. He was elected as a 5-year term president in 2004. Mr. Karzai was loved by the Bush Administration, but the Afghan population back home criticized him for lack of economic process and corrupt government officials. -
Obama's Presidency
When Mr. Obama became president, he made Afghanistan the central military focus of his administration, taking troops out of Iraq, and more in Afghanistan. He put General Petraeus command in U.S. forces in Afghanistan. U.S forces quickly picked up their pace, and went to the Taliban Strongholds in the south. -
Duedate in Afghanistan.
At West Point, president Obama announced his plan to deploy thirty thousand more troops in Afghanistan. He said that he would bring back troops from Afghanistan back home by mid 2011. -
Extended Duedate in Afghanistan
By the dueline in 2011, Obama administration announced to emphasize the U.S. will have forces in Afghanistan at least by the end of 2014, if the Taliban cooperates with U.S troops. The U.S. was warning the Taliban, the they wouldn't just walk away from them.