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Hassan Stands up to Assef
Assef, about to beat up Amir, finds Hassan with a sling shot's "wide elastic band all the way back. In the cup was a rock the size of a walnut. Hassan held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef's face" (42). Although their socioeconomic status put Hassan very low, he was still very brave, and stood up for his values. At this moment Hassan showed Assef, Amir, and himself, that he could be brave and stand up for others when it was needed. This is crucial to shaping their future actions. -
Period: to
Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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Amir and Hassan Win Kite Tournament
At the annual kite competition Amir fights well, and later he shouts with bloodied hands, "We won! We won! was all [he] could say... Then [he] saw Baba on our roof... standing on the edge, pumping both of his fists" (Hosseini 66). This event is very significant because it was very important to Amir. It made his father proud, which is something Amir rare feels and cherishes greatly. This victory improved his bond with Baba, and helped him realize that Hassan was always there to help him. -
Hassan is Raped
Following the kite competition Hassan goes to retrieve and run the kite, but he instead finds Assef, who "knelt behind Hassan, out his hands on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand" (75). This quote shows what happened to Hassan, and how horrible it was. This event will shape the rest of the book, and greatly affect both boys. This leads Hassan to leave, and Amir to return to Afghanistan. -
Hassan and Ali Leave Kabul
As a result of Hassan's rape, and other experiences, Hassan and Ali decide to leave Kabul for Hazarajat. Ali explains to Baba, "We can't live here anymore... Life here is impossible for us now Agha sahib" (106) Although at the time Amir does not know exactly why, Baba is very upset about this. Baba is losing his ear friend, and son Hassan. Hassan is very sad about leaving, but knows that after the rape, he will not be able to live and succeed in Kabul. -
Mohammad Daoud is Overthrown
General Daoud, the leader of Afghanistan "was violently overthrown by the PDPA, People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan . . . The PDPA was a Communist party and therefore held close ties to the Soviet Union." http://www.gradesaver.com/the-history-of-afghanistan -
Soviet Union Invades
After other less communist, and Soviet supported leaders had power "the USSR invades Afghanistan on Dec. 24 to bolster the faltering communist regime"
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
Baba and Amir Leave Kabul
As the war goes on and Kabul becomes more violent , they are forced to leave for America on a small truck. On this dangerous ride, a soldier stops them and Amir "could feel Baba tightening up next to [him]. Karim ... said the soldier wanted a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck" (115). This moment demonstrates how big the need was to leave Kabul, their home, and take a very dangerous risk. Baba also reveals his morals when he stands up for this woman, and stops the soldier. -
Refugees flee Afghanistan
As a result of the raging war and bad conditions "some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran" http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
Amir graduates high school in America
A few years after arriving in California, Amir is able to graduate high school and after the ceremony Baba exclaims, "I am moftakhir, Amir.' Proud. His eyes gleamed when he said that and I liked heir on the receiving end of that look" (131). Here, both Baba and Amir realize how far they have come, and how much they have accomplished. Also, this praise Amir gets shows a change in power and feeling. In Afghanistan, he rarely got praise,but here it is much different. -
Saudi Arabia becomes involved in Afghanistan
The U.S. asked Saudi Arabia for financial support in Afghanistan, and they agreed to help because "the Saudis as at once that granting this request would be a way to strengthen their friend Zia in Pakistan, promote groups within Afghanistan... and integrate themselves into Washington" (Kinzer) Overthrow- They will have Flies Walking Across their Eyeballs, Page 269 -
Amir Marries Soraya
Amir loves Soraya, and they had decided to marry. In asking for his daughter's hand, Baba is out of breath but says "Amir jan is my only son... I hope he proves worthy of your kindness. I ask that you honor Amir jan and me... and accept my son into your family" (168). This is a big deal, and it signifies Amir is moving on from a difficult period in his life. Baba is happy for him, and wishes him the best despite their challenges in the past. Amir will finally get a chance to start a new life. -
Baba Dies
Baba was diagnosed with cancer, and he eventually dies. At the funeral Amir thinks a lot about who he was. Remembering a story Amir realized Baba "had wrestled bears his whole life... a bear had come that he couldn't best. But even then, he had lost on his own terms" (174). This quote show the influence of Baba, and the kind of man he was. Baba was characterized as a strong man who overcame struggles, and had strong values. Amir will miss this influence, but think on the positive side of this. -
Soviets Leave Afghanistan
Due to extremely high costs and little success, The USSR "signed a peace accord with Afghanistan. In February 1989, the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan, where civil war continued" to rage. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-to-withdraw-from-afghanistan -
Taliban Takes Control
In Kabul after years of influence from the Taliban, this "Muslim fundamentalist group, took control of Afghanistan's government in 1996 and ruled [with a] rigid interpretation of Islamic law, under which it publicly executed criminals and outlawed the education of women" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/07/AR2008070701446.html -
Hassan Dies
After meeting with Rahim Khan Amir learns what has happened to Hassan and his family. Hassan had moved into their house but was protesting "again. So they took him to the street... and shot him in the back of the head" (219). Amir has not heard any news of Hassan until recently, and he had hope that Hassan was well, and they could reconnect. When he heard news of Hassan's death, Amir felt he had lost him, and felt guilt for the sins he committed against Hassan as a kid. -
Amir Goes to Peshawar
Rahim Khan became sick, and asked Amir to visit him. On the phone "Rahim Khan had made [a comment] just before we hung up... 'Come. There is a way to be good again'" (192). In this one moment years of pain and events came back to the surface. Rah Khan was sick and wanted to see him, but also was providing away to atone for what happened, and forgive himself. Forgiveness is important to move on successfully. -
Amir Visits the Orphanage
In search of Sohrab, Hassan's son, Amir goes to orphanage he lived at but finds "there is a Talib official... He visits once every month of two. He brings cash with him... Usually he'll take a girl. But not always" (256). In this quote Amir is fully realizing the corrupt ways of his old home. Short was taken from the orphanage, and this is horrible news. The risk Amir is willing to take shows the power atonement has over him. -
Amir and Farid go to Tournament
In order to find Sohrab's captor, Farid and Amir go to a soccer tournament where the man punishes two people brutally. He explains "Every sinner must be punishes in a manner befitting his sin!" and then he picked up a rock and " hurled the stone at the blindfolded man in the hole" (271). Amir could not watch this brutal, yet to Afghans normal, punishment. The Taliban was very violent, and kept people living in fear. While this might discourage some, Amir wanted to help Sohrab more and save him. -
Amir Meets with and Fights Assef
Assef, the man, and Amir brutally fight, for Sohrab, and to get closure. Asset is eager to fight, telling the guards outside, "Only one of us will walk out of this room alive... If it's him, then he's earned his freedom and you let him pass" (287). The result of this fight is Amir almost dying, and Sohrab shooting Assef in the eye with his slingshot. This battle helped Amir release his past, and finally make amends for what he did. While it breaks most of his body, it helps him to save morals. -
Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
Sohrab had avery hard past, and when he hears he might have to go back to an orphanage, he can't handle it. Amir finds him in the bathroom, almost dead, and "suddenly [he] was on his knees, screaming. Screaming through [his] clenched teeth... Later they said [he] was still screaming when the ambulance arrived" (343). Sohrab watched his parents get killed, was sexually and physically abused, and more. Losing hope for the U.S., was the last straw. It also showed how much Amir cared for him. -
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
When commercial planes were hijacked and crashed into the Twin Towers, "a total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The attack was orchestrated by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden." http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11-anniversary-fast-facts/ -
Sohrab Smiles and Speaks In America
Although for most this is not an event, Sohrab had a hard time, and didn't speak for almost a year. When he finally smiles and speaks at a kite competition, Amir expresses his joy by thinking, "It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right... But I'll take it. With open arms" (371). Sohrab is starting to recover from all that has happened, and with time he will fully. To Amir and Soraya this is great news, and it gives them hope for their son. Hope is an important thing. -
New Constitution is Created
In Afghanistan a new constitution was drafter by the "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, [and] approved January 4 by a 502-member assembly in Kabul, creates a nation that pledges to be both Islamic and democratic" http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/afghanistan-new-constitution/p7710 -
Troops and Money sent
Obama decided to implement a strategy "for the Afghanistan war that would dispatch more military and civilian trainers to the country, in addition to the 17,000 more combat troops he previously ordered" making this a very expensive and long war for the U.S. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
Osama Bin Laden is Killed
Following many years of terrorist attacks and attempts to capture "Osama bin Laden [he was] shot and killed inside a secured private residential compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, according to US government sources" http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=afghanwar_tmln&afghanwar_tmln_foreign_relations=afghanwar_tmln_pakistan_afghan_relations