Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Kite Runner Fishbowl #2: Chapters 13-22

If you are choosing to participate via comments on our class blog today, be sure you adhere to the same discussion expectations you would if you were in the inner circle:  respectfully challenging your classmates' thinking, basing your assertions on textual evidence, etc. 

There is not a finite number of times you need to contribute; rather, I will check to see that you are thoughtfully and consistently contributing.  If you wait to post until 20 minutes into our fishbowl or you post once and are dormant for 15 minutes, that indicates that you're not using your time thoughtfully. If this is because you're a slow typist or perhaps you struggle with the muti-tasking nature of this method of capturing your thinking, choose another way to show your understanding . If lack of focus continues to be a problem, you will be asked to hand-write a response to our next fishbowl or to verbally participate only.


A couple of things to keep in mind :
  • This is an academic assignment.  It should be properly written and proofread rather than assuming the appearance of a text message.
  • If addressing one person's post, name that person, i.e. "Fred, in response to your question..."
Blog away!

57 comments:

  1. @ Class
    Why does Farid feel the need to in a way attack Amir and scold him for coming back to his "Home" for the wrong reasons.

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    1. Angelo, to reply to your question, Farid thinks that Amir is back to sell Baba's mansion for his own, personal desires. He is unaware that Amir is back to visit Rahim Kahn, and, ultimately, save Sohrab.

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  2. What thoughts do you think were going through Amir's head when he found out that Hassan was killed?

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    1. I think he was heart broken and didn't know what to do. He had just lost his child hood friend. He has to feel bad that he never told hasson he saw him get raped.

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    2. I think the only thing Amir thought about was how he never said sorry. Like Rahim said, there is a way to be good again. But if Hassan is dead, Amir is thinking of how that is possible.

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  3. I would do the same a Zaman because losing one child is better than losing ten children.

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  4. Amir felt, he felt alone and heart broken. When he saw the house he and Hassan were born and raised in trashed and crumbled, he saw in his eyes the price for him leaving, for him abandoning Hassan. And it's only in that sight when he really knows all that it is he feels he has caused.

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  5. @Ben
    I think that only guilt was going through Amir's mind when he heard of Hassan being killed. Especially because Hassan died standing up for Amir's and Baba's house.

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  6. Sometimes there are no right decisions and you have to sacrifice some to get necessary things.

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  7. human trafficking is way more prevalent in america than you think. Some parents even sell their own children.

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  8. @ Class
    What do you think the brothers (Farid and Wahid) think of Amir when he tells them that he in a way doesn't want to write about what the Taliban is doing to their country because he is not that kind of writter.

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    1. Angelo:

      Farid and Wahid don't seem to address it much in the book, suggesting that perhaps they understand that Amir isn't a news writer.

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    2. i think they think he is a coward and dosent want to stand up for his home land. He dosent want to risk his life. Plus the letter probably wont help. so in this case Amir is doing the right thing.

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    3. Farid and Wahid think Amir is being selfish, because if Amir wrote about the Taliban (which he didn't) people all around the world would help the innocent people living in Afghanistan.

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  9. you can see it often, you just won't notice it. Because here is supposed to be the place where people can go to get away from that. You know it exists, you just can't notice it as much because here the people doing it are more careful about what they do and say.

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    1. if you know it exists, then you will notice it. If you know about it then it will become a lot more clear in situatuions. and i dont really think that theyre more careful, its that because we have so much technology (computers, etc) it is a lot easier to get away with it. But generally speqaking they are the same no matter what country it is in.

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  10. in the end you need to choose what is best for yourself or whats best for the child. If amir did what was best for himself he wouldve left but not leaving is a selfless act almost making up for what he did to hassan.

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  11. @ Matthew
    Do you think there is a line to be drawn that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to sacrificing something in order to get what you want?

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    1. i agree with Erica. There is a line that cant be crossed even when getting something you want. If you cross that line then you put your life in great danger.

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    2. @ Angelo
      When sacrificing anything there are always consequences to your decisions and don't always turn out the way that you might want them to turn out. When sacrificing it should never come to disowning your family or friend unless absolutely necessary.

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  13. I believe that the brothers will think that Amir is a coward for not being willful to stand up to the plate and help his people by exposing the Taliban. They probably also think he is weak for not having the strength to fight for the right his people have to live.

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  14. @Class
    How far would you go to save someone that you know, but have never met in your life before(Being Amir and Sohrab)

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    1. If it was a dire situation, like with a child, then i would go as far as needed because its the right thing. If it is just a blah situation and not a big impact, not very far. But i think if there is a child involved people tend to go a lot farther because its a child.

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    2. @Ben
      On a daily basis i try to go help people i don't even know but if that means doing it all for someone i have never met i would most likely not go very far. But is Amir's case he kinda had to make up for all the things Hassan did for him.

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  15. @Angelo I think there can be a line but really, would you rather take 1 child or 10?

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    1. Then whose right is it to determine which ones will stay and which will go with the Taliban? I think if one is picked over all the others, it is less fair to each child than it would be for all of them to let them all go. Children have feelings, and don't like favoritism.

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  16. Will Amir ever be able to make up to Hassan for what he did now that Hassan is dead?

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    1. No he never will. He will feel gilty for the rest of his life. There is no way to make it up to him.

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    2. Nothing can be done directly to make up to Hassan. However, Amir can obtain restitution by saving Sohrab from the Taliban, by which he would also be granting Rahim Kahn's dying wish.

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    3. i think in his mind no even though he saved hassans kid becuase it is still an awful thing. hasaan has already forgiven him, amir cant forgive himself

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    4. Well Austin, Amir could make it up to Hassan by taking in Sohrab as his own child

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    5. @Austin
      Amir will most likely not be able to make up for all the great sacrifices Hassan has made for him but in many ways he could try by Taking the kid and raising him to be just like Hassan.

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  17. However I think Amir believes he can't write about it because he believe's that it is somehow partiallly his fault for all that has happened in Afghanistan, his home. The last place he ever had his whole family all together. Amir, Baba, Ali, Rahim Kahn, and of course Hassan.

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  18. Why didn't Amir want to leave Baba's old house (chapter 21)?

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    1. I think he didn't want to leave because he misses Baba and that is the last thing he has to remember Baba.

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    2. It was once a part of his life. Ive done the same thing with my house in California. When I see it I just want to stare at it and go inside. It's like an attachment and absorbing in the memories, it just reminds you of how much your life has changed and who you have become as a person.

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  19. For all:

    In chapter 21, the Taliban have essentially established a totalitarian government in Afghanistan, built off of traditional values as well as their own values. Why do you think the Taliban do not wish to follow in the footsteps of the monarchy?

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  20. @Ben Probably nothing. You don't know the person at all, it's like seeing a stranger at the store and someone comes in with a gun, and trying to rob the place. Would you jump infront of of a gun for someone you don't know? I wouldn't, but I think there are some exceptions, like children, I don't want to see a child die. They have a full life ahead of them, it would be sad to see them go.

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  21. @ Matt.
    the reason why he didn't want to leave is because it is full of memoires of him and Hassan and his dad. If he didn't want to really leave that house because it was his life. To me the only real life he had. If not for the insdent, he would still be there.

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    1. but i think they still would left eventually because of all the crazy things happening. I dont think leaving was avoidable

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  22. I believe he will. There is always a way to make amends with one's self. However, in order to do so, he has to never, ever give up hope that he will. Otherwise it won't matter. Amir has to make amends with himself, his conscience, in order to make amends to Hassan. In order to make Hassan's memory be one of love and light, and not one anger and darkness.

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  23. @Ben
    It depends to what extent I know their father, brother, mother etc. I really couldn't tell you what I would sacrifice until I knew who I was sacrificing for.

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  24. @ Austin
    What about all the things that they did in America? And in reality, Baba only treated Hassan with respect in Afganistan. Why would those be his only memoires

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  25. Do you think taking in Sohrab is way to make up to Hassan?

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    1. Yes. Amir raised Hassan poorly, so if he can raise Sohrab well, then I think Hassan would be happy.

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  26. @Class
    What do you guys think Amir would be thinking about when he found out that Baba is Hassan's father? Making Amir and Hassan brothers

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    1. maybe he thought of how different he wouldve treated hasaan. Family is family.

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    2. i think he would be shocked. but honestly, i saw it coming, so i dont know how he could live his life without knowing that even though baba treated them both the same.

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  27. Amir will never be satisfied in trying to forgive himself for what he did. But if he gives up hope of doing so, that will be a worse action than the one he took that night so many years ago.

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  28. What do you think Soraya will say to him when he returns home?

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  29. Would you say something if you saw your best friend die, or would you just stand there because you are scared?

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    1. @Jake
      If i saw my best friend die i would say something because i would not want to live the rest of my life knowing i let my friend die.

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  30. Did Hassan ever forgive Amir for not standing up for him even though he stood up for Amir all the time?

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  31. Do you think that Amir will be able to get the boy without going through any violence and why?

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  32. Do you think Amir will tell Soraya EVERTHING about his trip?

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  33. I think he will feel even more guilty for what he did. He also will possibly feel betrayed by his father for doing that to his mother. However, all of the pieces of his past will finally fall into place. Why Baba had loved him so. Why he treated Hassan with more love than Amir thought he was getting. All of the reasons why he left Hassan there that night. Besides his 'Hazara' comment.

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