The Kite Runner and My Thinking

http://soozyreads.blogspot.ca/2011/06/letter-h-kite-runner.html

"The Kite Runner" may be the first book which reveals the harsh and hostile conflicts between the different groups of people during the devastating war in Afghanistan. I am originally from Afghanistan. I have read many books which included rape and sexual assault of women, but I have never read any books about sexually assaulting a man because, to my knowledge, there has never been one written. I appreciate the writers’ courage in writing a book that raises a worldwide voice for all the people who have endured any assaults in silence.

When I was reading this book, I got emotional because it reminded me of the tough reality which I spent more than half of my life in. In that time as the author indicates it was hard to survive, at any time anybody could harm anyone. In this book hate and love are described to the extreme point. For example being a witness of a sexual assault and remaining indifferent in spite of being able to intervene was difficult to understand. The victim, Hassan, could have been saved from such a tragedy. The feelings of regret and remorse seemed to trouble Amir, the narrator, for the rest of his life. He felt guilty with not intervening when his friend was attacked as a result of their association.

He is asked to go to Pakistan by Rahim Khan, a flat character as a good man who is Amir's
father's best friend. The idea of coming back from a distant country just to help the son of the hero increased my faith in humanity again because he realizes that the situation is more serious and severe. The story gets into its climax when Amir finds out that Hassan, his best friend who was raped just for being Amir’s best friend, was also his illegitimate brother. Hassan’s slanted eyes weren’t the best distinguishable sign to separate Pushton from Hazara. But unfortunately Hassan has died and his son is experiencing the same assault that his father did before by Asef, the protagonist, just for being Hazara, having a flat nose and slanted eyes. The damage has already occurred with no chance of redemption, but if it doesn’t stop it would end in a greater tragedy. The young boy, who is the son of Hassan, and also Amir’s nephew, must be rescued from a long lasting sexual assault by the authorities. Doing so, allows Amir finally, to feel compelled to avenge the attack of his friend.

Although this book has many readers around the world, the story is very controversial in Afghanistan.  Some people blame the Kite Runner’s author for writing about illegal sexual contacts, which is totally unacceptable in Afghanistan’s local writing ethics, but I like it. As I approached the end of the story, tears ran down my cheeks. I truly feel terrible for the innocent people around the world who became the victim of the political games of arrogant authorities who violate their human rights.