Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday's question...
America acts as a place for Amir to bury his memories and a place for Baba to mourn his. In America, there are "homes that made Baba's house in Wazir Akbar Khan look like a servant's hut." What is ironic about this statement? Why, of all the places they could go, do you think they go to America?
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FIRST COMMENT!
The statement is ironic because, like many immigrants who come to America, Amir and Baba are suddenly no longer among the wealthy and live in the lower/middle-class with blue-collar jobs. There's also some more irony in Amir and Baba's closer relationship despite, or maybe because of, this new setting.
Since the two left during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, they may have left for America simply for political freedom.
The statement is ironic because Amir and Baba were so rich, had a large house, and had servants. But now, they live in a small house and don't have very much money, so they may now know what it is like to work as a poor servant surrounded by riches. They may have chosen the US as a place to live because the US apposed Russia and there would be other Afghans in the US that were moving with them, or were already living there. Baba may have also been influenced by the image of the US as the land of opportunity,and that the US would offer them more freedoms than a Russian-occupied Afghanistan.
The statement is very ironic because back in Kabul, Amir and Baba were very affluent and considered to be part of the upper class. But now, like many other immigrants coming to America, they do not have much money and they are regarded as lower in the social hierarchy than they ever would have imagined.
Of all the places they could go, I think that they go to America because it is known as a place where you can in a way start your life over and find new, exciting opportunities.
This statement is ironic because they go from being the master, to being the servent, kind of. They don't have to actually do someone else's chores, but in America, they are discriminated against heavily. Also, having that much money in their old country doesn't mean that they have that same wealth in America, which they don't have.
One other reason could've been that they were so used to have everyone do stuff for them, but now they have to make it on their own. There is no Hassan or Ali to iron their clothes or make their breakfast.
Welcome to the real world!
They left because the conditions in Afghanistan were awful. Russia was invading and they would've been much better off somewhere else. They would be politically and religiously free.
The statment is ironic because in Afghanistan, Amir and Baba were very wealthy, living as members in the upper class. Earlier in the novel, Amir had described Baba's house as the largets in Kabul. The fact that it is dwarfed by some of the houses in America emphasizes their journey form upper class, to lower-middle class citizens that work to make a living.
There are several possible reasons that Baba and Amir went to America. Russia had invaded Afghanistan, and forced them out. Since, the novel take splace during the Cold War, America was Russia's enemy, meaning that it was a safe haven for those who hated the Russians, like Baba. Also, the freedoms of America make it more attractive to immigrants then some other countries. The final reason is that Amir had grown up admiring America and western culture. This may have influenced Baba's decision, necause he wanted to make his son happy.
The statement is ironic because when Amir and Baba lived in Afghanistan they were rich and got everything they wanted. When ariving in America they were part of the low/middle class and had no one to do their dirty work. There was no one to make their food and clean their clothes.
They probably picked America because it is known as a place where you can start over and begin a new life. Also the Russians took over Afghanistan and Baba along with the US hated Russia.
This statement is ironic because even though Amir and Baba were once among the rich while in Afghanistan, once they came to "the land of oppurtunity", they knew what it felt like to not have all the luxuries that they had back in Afghanistan. Instead, Baba had to work at a gas station to support his family, while in Afghanistan he didn't have to work much.
They most likely left Afghanistan for America because the Russian Invasion turned their lives around, and wanted to get to safety.
The statement is ironic because Amir and Baba were one of the wealthiest people in Kabul but when Russia invaded, Amir and Baba had to leave everything behind. Amir and Baba, just as many other immigrants, are now in the low/middle class society in America. America is the perfect place for Amir and Baba because America doesn’t care if you were rich, poor, a Sunni Muslim, or a Hazzara. America treats everyone equally because most people come to America to escape political or religious oppression. America can help Amir and Baba forget Afghanistan and all its horrors.
This is ironic because back in Afghanistan, everybody knew Baba was the most prosperous and the most well-off. Now, in the US, he has a status of zero and is known to nobody.
I think they choose America because they regard it as a place of security and stability, traits which Afghanistan lacks. Also, I think they see America, like everybody else sees it, as the land of opportunities. in Afghanistan, Baba had to constantly struggle to get to where he was. I don't think he wants to watch his son go through the same amount of hardship and suffering. America could lessen that amount by containing a few more possibilities of becoming successful. Baba was willing to sacrfice what he had spent a lifetime buidling up for his son to be able to have a chance in a more promising land.
This is ironic because Baba is mourning the loss of his glory, large property, servants, and mansion, because that was his life's work in Kabul. However, in Amir's case, even though he had all of those luxuries, he was still haunted by what happened to Hassan. In America, even though he Amir lost all of his material possessions, he gained the opportunity to bury his cowardice, and bury his past. Baba is trying to keep his past alive.
Baba and Amir went to the U.S. because of the Russian invasion and America's history of accepting immigrants.
This statement is ironic because Amir and Baba were wealthy and had a relatively large house in Kabul, but now, in America,the two live in an apartment and Baba works at a gas station. Amir may have buried his memories, but now he has a difficult life.
Amir and Baba choose America as a refuge because they admire its leaders and size. They had probably heard of America as a place of peace and happiness, which would have been a welcome change from fighting in Afghanistan.
It is ironic that Amir used to live in a high classed society in Pakistan, but is now living in a low-class society. He was considered rich in one country but isnt really rich in another country. I believe that Baba moved to America because of the scarse privilages and rights in Afghanistan. Baba probably moved to America to give Amir a better environment to grow up in.
The statement was ironic because back in Afghanistan, Baba and Amir lived a very wealthy and high class lifestyle. When they come to America, they realize what it truly is like to live in poverty and not have the luxury of servants or of being part of the upper class.
America is their choice of refuge, because unlike other countries, you are religiously and politically free. America is a very opportune land and therefore is the best choice for people like Amir and Baba who are trying to start over and create a new, free and unrestricted life.
In Kabul, Baba was extremely wealthy and influential. He had 'the biggest house in Kabul' and servants. Here in America, he descends to the lower-average class. He has little money, an average job, and a small apartment. This humbles Baba, and even brings him closer to Amir. Baba mourns for his days of the past, when he was well known and respected.
They came to America because the Russian invasion was destroying the way of life in Afghanistan. They sought freedom in America.
The statement is ironic because now they are no longer considered rich. Everything in American society is different than in their home country... their house which is the biggest in their country is now considered quite small.
I think that they chose to go to America because there is more freedom. It would obviously be better then being constricted in your own home land where Russia is invading.
This chapter is ironic in so many ways. We all know their background, so I dont really have to explain it, but the statement, "homes that made Baba's house...look like a servant's hut." is very funny, because we know their history. Afghanistan, compared to America is a very small country in the middle east. In Afghanistan, Baba made himself out to be the big hotshot, and was very well known. He was wealthy, threw parties every week, and was just loved. But when they were forced to move to another country. They chose America because the idea of it pleased Baba. But even though he was well known in Afghanistan, when he came to America, nobody knew him. It's like being the valedictorian of your high school, but when you go to college, you're not that big anymore, because everyone is pretty much like you, in status, so it doesn't really matter anymore, until you make yourself bigger and more established. What's interesting is that even though in America he's part of the lower class, he starts to adapt again, and while maintaining his dignity ( the food stamps) bring himself to the point where he's becoming more recognized within his community. He invites his neighbors over, he knows people and is able to makes deals (the van), he becomes the manager at the gas station, he started a party at the bar etc...If Baba had been younger, and more fitted in the American society, he could of easily risen in social status, just like he did in Afghanistan He worked at a gas station, but he was the manager of that. His house was small, but he still the master. If his social rising rate had continued, it would of been like housing a future president in a hut, and that's ironic. Other than that, I think that the only other reason why it would make his old house look like a servant's hut, is because America just has so much more technology and luxurious items, that are probably seen as a waste of resources in Afghanistan.
I think that they could of gone to other countries, but because Baba wanted to go to America caused Amir to have no objection, or opinion. What Baba said was it, and Amir wanted to please Baba. The VERY ironic this is that Baba thought that America would be a place that he heard about, being free and rights etc... But they were looked down upon. Baba got a lower class job, and was offered charity. He could give his political views, but was still mocked. Going to America just made both of them work so hard, and tire them out.
The thing that i find most ironic is that Amir wanted to bury his memories and Baba mourned his. i kind of laughed at this statement, because they got the opposite. Even though Amir wanted to bury his memories of Hassan, they just seemed to pop up right again. burying those memories just caused him more pain. Amir would be thinking about not thinking about the memories, trying to busy himself with not thinking about Hassan but at the same time, was thinking about not thinking about him. It's so ironic. I mean...Hassan was his brother for so many years. it's not like Amir could just cut him out from his life. it's like cutting off his arm or something. it's not like Baba forgot about him either. He even mentioned Hassan after Amir's graduation. Great job in burying his memories...But for Baba's benefits, he got to see a lot of his friend from Afghanistan. Which ironically, also brought back memories for Amir. Baba fit right into the Afghan-American community. even though they physically weren't in Afghanistan, aren't the people from it part of the same thing? in the market, they followed Afghanistan customs, like respecting each other.
(wow...i think i just ranted again. and it was twice as long as the other one O.O)
In America, the homes made Baba's house look like a servant's hut. This is ironic because in Afghanistan, Baba was very rich and owned servants. However, he now no longer lives amongst the upper classmen.
Baba and Amir moved to America to escape the Russian invasion. Also, America was a free place, and Baba wanted Amir to be more happy there, where he could start a new life.
The statement is ironic because while Baba and Amir move to a much wealthier nation, they themselves are much poorer. Also, while not only does their wealth look petty in comparison, but Baba himself leaves a life of wealth and luxury to become a "servant" to those of greater wealth. In addition, their new situation in fact brings them closer to the struggling masses in Afghanistan that they never knew. They were more natives of their native land in a foreign country then they were when they lived in their native land. The US was mostly used as the destination of Baba and Amir to allow Kite Runner to, to some extent, become autobiographical for Khaled Hosseini (who according to the biography in the book was the son of a Afghani diplomat who after being born in Kabul left in 1980 for political asylum in the US) as well as to make the novel more approachable for its American audience. However, America was used because it was such an opposite of the Afghanistan Amir returns to as well as the one he left and was where many Afghans in reality fled to which allowed the vibrant community Baba and Amir found to exist.
It is ironic because he went from being the son of a very wealthy, important (almost all-powerful) man in Afghanistan to just another poor, looked-down-at immigrant in California. He now knows the feeling of living like a servant, and it makes him think that his life in Afghanistan was less significant and he was less rich than he thought.
Amir and Baba left Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion for political asylum and to be freed from the ever-present fighting and commotion.
The statement is ironic because when Baba was living in Afghanistan he had been wealthy, highly respected, and powerful. Now that he is living in America everything has changed. He has a poor job and his old house, which was considered large, is small compared to American houses. It shows how a once rich man can become poor despite only a change in his surroundings.
They came to America for freedom that wasn't available in Afghanistan due to the Russian invasion. Baba also might have chosen to come to America because many of his friends were immigrating there as well.
This statement shows how they went from being very high class just under royalty in Afghanistan to being blue collar regular people in America workin six days a week just to keep a roof over their head and food on their table. This gives Amir the chance to go forward in his life and try to forget all the horrible things that happened to him in Afghanistan. He has a chance to go and make the best of his life. Baba on the other hand has seen the prime of him life come and go, he realises that this is going to be the part of his life where he works off all the nice thigns he had back in Afghanistan. But he does this for Amir so that he can go on and have as good a life as possible. They come to America because their home country was being invaded by the russians so they porbably wanted to get away from all the fighting in the middle east.
This statement was ironic because in Afghanistan Baba and Amir lived in a large house and were very wealthy people, but when they moved to America to start a better life they ended up with less than they used to have and they are the people who they used to help in Kabul.
There is irony in that statment because Baba once had "the nicest home in Kabul", and now he and his son lived in a small apartment with little money in America. Baba found safety in America because the Russians were not constantly bombing his area. Although he lived the good life back in Afghanistan, it was extremely unsafe there and living a poor life is better than not living at all.
Baba knows what it is like to come from nothing and work for everything, and life was very good to him up until the Russians invading. Now that he is in America, he has to start new. Baba works hard to put Amir through high school and college. Working 12 hours at the gas station is not Baba's favorite or highest paying job, but he does it to give Amir every oppurtunity to succeed.
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