Propaganistan

The Kite Runner is a rich story that is so well written the characters and places become three-dimensional. It is this powerful writing which makes the book such powerful propaganda. Amir goes through some of the most potent emotions a human can experience: guilt, fear, loss, and the need to belong. The reader can identify with Amir; and during his return trip to Afghanistan, the reader feels as though Amir is not the only one who has lost a sacred land. Amir's sadness and struggle becomes your own. It is this emotional attachment to the story that allows Khaled Hosseini to change our perceptions and feelings toward Afghanistan and its people. I wouldn't say The Kite Runner is propaganda in the sense that most people associate with the word. I don't want to put that negative spin on it. When people hear propaganda, they feel they are in some way being deceived, which isn't the case in The Kite Runner. I believe that the terror and hardships that are described are probably accurate, that isn't to say it's not propaganda; it still persuades your ideas and opinions. It is simply good propaganda; presented in a respectable and candid manner. Hosseini's description of Afghanistan during Amir's return trip home, is much like I had pictured in my mind; a run-down, barren area, filled with deserted homes, rubble and beggars; a land that has been ravaged of her resources and left for people to scavenge. Children with no fathers live on the street, trying to survive. It is this image I have known since I can remember. Scenes of the gulf war, and current battles in the Middle East all paint the same picture. What surprised me was the description of Afghanistan before the Russian invasion. Hosseini describes it with bustling markets, and beautiful homes. Maybe it is nostalgia, but he speaks of Afghanistan with such splendor and refinement. You find yourself sitting under the pomegranate tree listening to Amir's stories, and watching the kites dance in the sky. You find a connection to this place, and feel the loss of its beauty on your trip back in 2001. It is this loss that changes your perceptions of Afghanistan. It is almost as though if Afghanistan had always been the way it is today, then it wouldn't bother you. But knowing of the happiness and brilliance that once existed changes everything. The tragedy of today's Afghanistan can no longer be justified with, "Well, that's how it's always been, and that's how it'll always be." Hosseini doesn't only change your opinion of the country, but of the people in it. In the post 9/11 world we live in, there are severe and harsh stereotypes associated with Afghan people. They are considered heathens, who insist on waging war with someone, many times with themselves. They are never going to be a peaceful people, so why should we send our men over there to die? These are comments I hear all the time. After reading The Kite Runner, you understand these people are being tortured; they're held captive in their own country. When you find out Hassan has been killed, you are infuriated, and left to mourn a fictitious character. The public stoning in the stadium is gruesome, and when Assef speaks of feeling liberated by "standing in a room full of targets and letting the bullets fly," you feel sick. Even the biggest anti-immigration lobbyist would find himself rooting for Sohrab to get his visa. You realize how horrible the Taliban truly is, and the power they possess. The rest of the people are left to suffer and try to find a way to survive. If they try to escape the vicious Taliban by coming to the United States, they must then face the vicious stereotype set by the same men. Even in their freedom, they are reminded of the evil of the Taliban, reflected through the perceptions of Americans. You understand why people flee to this country; the scornful glares only strip you of your nang and namoos (honor and pride), but to stay in Afghanistan means certain death. I believe this is an important novel for Americans to read right now. So many of us are questioning the decisions this country has made, and blaming the Afghan people for the losses we have suffered. Maybe it won't change all American's opinions of Afghanistan and her people the way it has mine, but it might help them understand. Help them understand why we are there; that these people are being tortured and exterminated. They need help. Their dignity is eradicated, and they live a life where they have to question whether or not they might see the sunset that day. Their life is in a state of constant unrest. This is not a choice for these people; their old way of life hangs in the balance as the Taliban creates shockwaves that threaten to disturb any remnants of hope that life will ever return to its normal state. This book let's you feel the fear and sadness that these people are forced to deal with daily. When you come to the end of the story, you realize the emotional rollercoaster you just went through is only that, a story. For them it is real life, and despite the words you just read, the story becomes unimaginable. It is this power in words that makes it such a significant story for Americans. I don't believe Hosseini wrote The Kite Runner deliberately to serve as propaganda, but his poignant prose, and vivid descriptions impregnate the reader with a sense of who Afghanistan really is. His eloquent words, and gripping story bring the reader into the heart of Afghanistan. The emotions you feel are genuine and compelling. As you follow the life of Amir, you are forced to explore your own opinions and stereotypes.