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Zahir Shah Overthrown
When Amir looks back on his past he says, " I remembered the night in 1973, the night Zahir Shah's cousin overthrew him...told us not to be afraid, they were just shooting ducks." When Amir is looking back on his past he remembers how much his father loved Hassan and Him. This also shows that Hassan was loved as much as Amir. -
Hassan has his Surgery
For Hassans's Birthday, Baba takes Hassan who "fixes peoples faces" to get his lip fixed. When Hassan's surgery is done he is very grateful and happy, even though his lip has stiches and is a blue. This demonstrates Baba's love for Hassan, whom we later find out is also Baba' s son. -
Hassan gets Raped by Assef
After Amir cuts the last kite, Hassan goes to run it for him but, Assef and his two friends get to Hassan first, " I was afraid of getting hurt. That's what i told myself as turned my back to the alley, to Hassan." This event scared Amir for life, he was no longer able to look at Hassan without feeling ashamed of his choice. This is the reason Amir went back to Afghanistan. -
Amir and Hassan Win the Kite Tournament
Amir and Hassan enter the kite fighing tournament, Amir says "We Won! We won!" Amir feels he has finally proven that he can do something for his father. Baba "was on the edge, pumping both of his fists." -
Hassan Gets Caught in the Alley by Assef
Amir is watching Hassan in the alley," He turned his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resingnation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of a lamb." while Hassan is chasing a kite for Amir he gets caught by Assef. Amir's whole life changes at this moment. -
First Soviets Invade
The New York Times article states, "The first Soviet Troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979" -
Amir and Baba leave Afghanistan for America
Amir and Baba leave Afghanistan after the Russians invade because," You couldnt trust anyone in Kabul anymore- for a fee or under threat, people told each other." Baba does not want to leave Afghanistan but, he soon realizes that it is too unsafe to stay. -
Baba tries to strangle Karim
Baba gets angry when Karim says that there is not a truck, " I caught a flurry of movement out of the corner of my eye. Then a blur of something zipping across the room, and the next thing i saw was Karim slammed against the wall, his sandaled feet dangling two feet above the floor. Wrapped around his neck were Baba's hands." Baba was frusturated with the Russians and Karim because Karism was making it hard for Baba and Amir to leave. -
Amir Graduates
When Amir graduates his father is very proud of him, Baba says to Amir,"I am moftakir, Amir." Moftakir means proud, and Amir does not get that from his father very often. THis is one of the few times where Baba is proud of Amir -
Amir meets Soraya
Amir sees Soraya for the first time at a swap meet, "Her eyes, walnut brown and shaded by fanned lashes, met mine. Held for a moment. Flew away." Amir instantly falls in love with Soraya, and triess to see her at every swap meet. Love at first sight. -
Baba is Diagnosed With Cancer
Amir and Baba go to visit Dr. Armani for Baba's strange illness, it turned out to be lung cancer, "Bab asked Dr. Armani for the prognosis. Dr. Armani bit his lip, used the word "grave." Even though Baba is dying he still does not tell Amir about Hassan. Baba never atoned for his sins, while Amir did. -
Amir and Soraya get married
Baba helps get General Taheri's blessing to marry Soraya, "The mullah questoned the witnesses and read from the Koran. We said our oaths. Signed our certificates." Baba was very happy that Amir got married. Baba even said it was the "happiest" day of his life. -
Baba Dies
In 1987 Baba dies from Lung Cancer, he is still living with Soraya and Amir, " She pulled up his blanket. We closed the door. Baba never woke up." Amir and Soraya were not suprised by Baba's death, they knew the end was near for him. It was also better for Amir to go to Afghanistan with his father already gone. -
Last Soviets leave Afghanistan
Another quote from New York Times says, "After peace talks with the United Nations, the last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan in Febuary 1989." -
Soraya and Amir Discover Their Infertility
One evening, in 1991, "Soraya broke the news to her parents the weekend after our last visit with Dr. Rosen." After monthes of trying to have a baby, Soraya and Amir finally discover ther infertility and tell Soraya's parents. As Soraya's mother says," God knows best, bachem. Maybe it wasn't mean't to be," proves that this is fore-shadowing that Amir will adopt Sohrab. -
Mullah Omar has 12,000 followers
New York Times says, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east." -
Taliban Takes Control of Afghanistan
The New York Times article states, "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic Law" -
Amir Leaves for Afghanistan
Rahim Khan calls Amir and tells him he has to come back to Afghanistan, "I lowered the phone into the cradle and stared at it for a long time." Amir realizes that he has to go back to Afghanistan to face his past. This means he also has to atone for his sins. -
Amir fights Assef
When Amir is trying to get Sohrab back from the Taliban, he discovers that Assef has Sohrab and wants to fight to the death over him, Assef says, " We have some unfiinished business, you and I." While fighting Assef, amir starts laughing hysterically while he is getting beaten. This is a cleansing for Amir because he left Hassan in the alley. -
Al Qaeda Attacks World Trade Center
New York Times says that there was an attak on the World Trade Center, "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" -
Hamid Karzai Named Chairman of Interim Government
New York Times states, "In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Arghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban." -
Hamid Karzai Elected President
NY times says, "Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" -
Rioting Breaks Out Between Shiites and Sunnis
An article by CNN states, "In 2006, rioting broke out between Shiites and Sunnis at an Ashura festival in Herat, leading to several deaths." -
President Obama Plans to Deploy More Troops
New York Times also states, "In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." -
President Obama Vows To Bring Troops Home
New York Times states that President Obama "vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011."