Please find your desk, pick up a book, and start filling out the yellow/blue book cards. Instructor: McComb Cost to replace book: $10.00 Book # should be on the inside cover or on the bottom of the book.

 Kite Runner  Project (theme)  Literature Circles  Independent Reading  Hero’s Journey  Project  Satire  Mystery/Suspense

 Show up for class.  Do the work.  Turn the work in! Please consult my class website whenever you are absent or needed to get additional handouts. Please go to the OSH website and follow the links to find my site or make this address your favorite:

Homework is designed to aide you in doing well on the summative. Your homework shows me how well you are grasping the content. Good practice—is important! Do or do not…there is no try. You are responsible for your decisions. Luck favors the prepared. Choose your path wisely.

We will begin this trimester reading the book The Kite Runner.

 This book is the first Afghan novel to be written in English.  Over 9 million copies sold worldwide, and translated into 25 languages  Takes place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and America.  Time: Early 1970s to early 2000

 Born in Kabul, Afghanistan  Father: a diplomat  Mother: teacher of Farsi and history  1976: relocated to Paris, France  September 1980: granted political asylum in the US; moved to California.  1 st of 3 books  Around 2006, he established The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a nonprofit, which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

 Invaded and conquered by several empires: Persian, Greek, Arab, Turk, Mongol, British, Soviet, and America and her allies

 Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan  Kabul is a blend of old and new buildings.  Kabul has many historical monuments, including the tombs of some of its rulers, and a number of gardens.  Kabul’s population is mainly Persian- (Dari-) speaking, although there is a large proportion of Pashtuns.

 Pashtun: Most numerous and powerful  Sunni Muslim  Aryan features  They live primarily in the region that lies between the Hindu KushHindu Kush and the northern Indus RiverIndus River in Pakistan.Pakistan

 Hazara: Least powerful (they make up one-fifth of Afghanistan’s population)  Shiite Muslims  Asian features  They have a reputation for industriousness yet work the least desirable jobs

 Afghanistan emerged as a nation in 1747 under Ahmad Shah. He is known as the father of Modern Afghanistan.

 Peaceful rule until 1973 when Mohammad Daoud joins with Afghan communist to overthrow his cousin, the king. Afghanistan switches from being a monarchy to being a republic.

 Deterioration begins… Mid ‘70s.  Afghanistan is pro-communist and anti-religious  Iran and Pakistan (its neighbors) are strongly Islamic.  1978: A coup deposes Daoud, and Taraki becomes President—for a short time.  In 1979: USSR invades and Taraki is killed. The Soviet Army sets up a government in Kabul.

 To counter the Soviet presence, an Islamic campaign was declared to overthrow the Soviets.  Afghan warriors were trained and generously funded (with billions of dollars) by the CIA.  In 1989, as a result of the campaign, Russia leaves Afghanistan. ( )

 Russian casualties: 15,000  Afghan Casualties: Over 1 million dead  6.2 million escape Afghanistan  Afghanistan is reduced to rubble

 After, the status quo in the country could not effectively be moderated by a strong central government. Lots of infighting with rival factions. (1992)  So, mini-states (within a state) arose. The mini-states made it easy for foreign occupation.  Foreign players strengthened relationships with regional leaders, and the central government weakened, creating an chaotic situation in Afghanistan and an opening for human rights abuse…

 They began by helping to restore peace and security.  Then, they took over as Afghanistan’s government and soon began enforcing laws through rigorous enforcement of what they deemed to be “Islamic Law”: -public beating -flogging -amputation of hands -stoning to death.

Not clothed in accordance with the Taliban rules? Whipping, beating and verbal abuse Unaccompanied by a male relative? Whipping, beating and verbal abuse Having non-covered ankles? Whipping of women in public Accused of having sex outside marriage? Public stoning of women

 Don’t listen to music, or watch of movies, television and videos.  All people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic ones.  Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth. All boys must wear turbans.  Men must wear Islamic clothes and a cap; men should not save or trim their beards but grow them long.  All people attend prayers in mosques five times daily.  Kite flying is banned; it is “un-Islamic”.

 Anyone who carries objectionable literature will be executed.  Anyone who converts from Islam to any other religion will be executed.  No burial of those executed; their bodies must remain in public as examples to other potential “wrong doers”.  Non-Muslim minorities must distinct badge or stitch a yellow cloth onto their dress to be differentiated from the majority Muslim population. Just like what did Nazis with Jews.  Banned the use of the internet by both ordinary Afghans and foreigners.

 It’s in this world our characters live.

So why is it called The Kite Runner?

Quoted from “Kites for Kabul: Flying for Freedom” Kite-running is a two-person affair…[one] is in charge of the holding the wooden kite spool, around which the wire, or “tar” is wound. The second person[…] is in control of the movement of the kite in the air. Kite flyers stand on tops of buildings, fighting with kites from all over the city. The object is to strike down the kite of your opponent with the string of your kite, after which you will be called the winner. The strings are often made with razor wire which gives the sharpness to cut down other kites. After an opponent’s kite is set free, it flutters away into the wind where it is usually picked up by the local children, who fly it the next day as their own….

 In a 2007 article by Kirk Semple of the New York Times, kite flying, which “remains off limits to girls and women”, and which was banned during the Taliban regime, is again becoming the “the main recreational escape for Afghan boys and some men.”  Ways to participate:  Hold the spool  Control the movement  Be the kite runner

Amir holds the spool and controls the movement of the kite while Hassan is the kite runner.

 Use class time wisely.  Be prepared for the quizzes and literature circles on the scheduled day.  Time to read.

Encyclopedia Britannica