The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass - 947 Words

Towards the end of chapter ten in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglas describes how slave owners would make slaves’ holidays miserable. Slave owners did this to manipulate the slaves into believing that they are better off in slavery. They would entice slaves to get drunk by placing bets on who could drink the most. When a slave had had enough to drink, he would then ask for something else, but unknowingly receive more alcohol. As a result, slaves would prefer to work in the fields instead of having holidays. This passage illustrates how African Americans remained content in their shackles of slavery for 245 years in America. Within this passage Douglass enlightens the reader about the slave owners’ objective: creating a false perception of freedom for their slaves so they’d accept their position in society. Douglass describes this by stating â€Å"the slaveholder, knowing his ignorance, cheats him with a dose of vicious dissipation† (page ). Douglass uses the words â€Å"ignorance† and â€Å"cheats â€Å"to emphasize the manipulation of the slave owners (page ). â€Å"Vicious dissipation† depicts the consequence of the slave owners’ actions. Accordingly, African Americans would descend further into intoxication. Douglass then reiterates the slaves’ vulnerability two lines later, the slaves â€Å"were led to think that there was little to choose between liberty and slavery† (page ). He uses the phrase â€Å"led to think† to explain how slave owners’ manipulated their views (page ). AsShow MoreRelatedNarrative Of The Life Of Frederic k Douglass987 Words   |  4 PagesLife of Frederick In the â€Å"narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass an American slave written by himself† Frederick reveled to audience the time he was living as a slave and the moments of brutal treats for example psychological, emotional and physical abuses. He was suffering terrible moments during his 20 years as a slave in the twentieth century. In addition, he describes in his own words the strategies he used to escape from the slave holders and to be free. This story the â€Å"Narrative of theRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesDate Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Writing in the favor of black people has always remained controversial from the very beginning. Critics regard such writing as â€Å"a highly conventionalized genre† indicating that â€Å"its status as literature was long disputed but the literary merits of its most famous example such as Frederick Douglass s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass†¦are widely recognized today.† (Ryan:537) Despite of such severe resistance, writers like Douglass have pennedRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe â€Å"Narratives of the Life of Frederick Douglass† is the story of Frederick Douglass’ life from the time he was born into slavery, to the time he escaped to freedom in the north. When Douglass wrote this book, slavery was still legal in a large portion of the United States. After Douglass’ escape to freedom and his continuation of his education, he became an abolitionist through his works of literatu re and speeches. In â€Å"The Blessings of Slavery†, by George Fitzhugh he states that southern slavesRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1257 Words   |  6 PagesBook Review By Mary Elizabeth Ralls Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass: An autobiography written by Frederick Douglass Millennium publication, 1945edition 75 pages Frederick Douglass whose real name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey approximately birthdate is in1818, the month or day is not known, he died in 1895. He is one of the most famous advocates and the greatest leaders of anti-slavery in the past 200 or so years.Read MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay1498 Words   |  6 Pagessoutherners believed that one of the most essential means of life was slavery. In the novel, Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass challenges and debunks the idea of slavery being a necessary part of the white lifestyle; many pro-slavery arguments consisted of religion justifying slavery, slaves being â€Å"easily manipulated†/ignorant, and slavery keeping the southern economy from disappearing (The Proslavery Argument). Frederick uses personal experiences and other tactics to expose theRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1730 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most well-known slavery narratives wa s lived and written by Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was a civil rights activist who was born into slavery on a plantation in eastern Maryland in February 1818. His exact birth date is unknown, he states in his narrative, â€Å"I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.†2 His birth name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, which was given by hisRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1363 Words   |  6 Pages In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass portrays the importance of education because of its influence in leveling the playing field between the races in the 1800s. Education and knowledge are themes that are heavily dwelled upon throughout the novel, inspiring the reader to see the full power of such important ideals and to take the full advantage of both at all times. Douglass gives the reader a new appreciat ion for education as he delivers his message regardingRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1255 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Douglass, throughout Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, uses religion to get many of his points across. In one way, religion plays a huge role in Douglass’ ability to become literate throughout the text. With the Bible and other Christian texts, Douglass is able to further his ability and the ability of others to read. This becomes important because as Douglass points out the slaveholders believe a literate slave is not a good slave. This union of literacy and religion show theRead MoreThe Narrative Life Of Frederick Douglass1583 Words   |  7 Pages‘The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass’ is an autobiography of Frederick Douglass, the slave who escaped and became one of renowned social reformers of his time. The book is a collection of actual experiences of the author during his time in slavery and experienc es of fellow slaves. He describes brilliantly the oppressive conditions into which he was born, lived, as well as his struggles and triumphs. The author meant to make the reader comprehend life of the African Americans in slavery beforeRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass939 Words   |  4 PagesRevolutionary Freedom In 1845, an African-American man named Frederick Douglass released a thought-provoking autobiography that would become a turning point in revolutionary change. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was the first autobiography Douglass had written focusing on the real life struggles he has faced during his time spent in bondage. During his time, it was not common for an African-American to have the skills to read and write, and it was especially uncommon to publish

The Colonization Of The New World - 1068 Words

From 1689 to 1763, almost 200 years after Columbus’ discovery of the New World, several European nations fought to acquire their share of America’s wealth. The Spanish, leaders in the exploration of the New World, were the first to colonize the Americas. In 1494, two years after Columbus’ expeditions, the Treaty of Tordesillas was ratified by the Pope. This treaty split the New World between Portugal and Spain. By the mid 1500s, Spain had gained control of much of western South America, Central America, and Southern North America. Portugal claimed lands in modern day Canada and Brazil. It wasn’t long before other European nations began to dispute the Treaty of Tordesillas. England and France both tried to found colonies during the 1500s but failed pitifully. In the 1600s, France, England, and the Dutch Republic were finally able to successfully established colonies in the Americas. Unfortunately for Spain, they would not be able to control the expansion of the English and French into North America. England would soon become the dominant shareholder of North America due to their objectives when coming to the New World, their victory in Queen Anne’s War, and their victory in the Seven Years’ War. The primary reason England quickly surpassed France and Spain in planting their roots in North America was their objectives and reasons for coming to the New World. England had many groups of citizens who wished for the right to freely practice their religion. Some of these groupsShow MoreRelatedThe Colonization Of The New World1333 Words   |  6 Pagesin number; fill the earth and subdue it.†, that’s exactly how all the ethnic groups wanted to accomplish dealing with this discovery in this foreign land with farming and the dry land possession in many field spirituals. The colonization’s in the New World was consistently complex to keep peace during those days from wars and competition for claiming the land of opportunities. Between the cultural differences, the Spanish, the Dutch, the French and the English, it was truly a sacrifice for each ofRead MoreColonization of the New World3463 Words   |  14 PagesColonization of the New World The discovery and colonization of the â€Å"New World† was one of the most significant and influential events in the known history of mankind. It has shaped our present by changing the course of our past and is a time of such great significance that it would be all but impossible to understand today without at least some comprehension of the why s of yesterday. What was it that drove such a myriad of people to risk so much to tame the wild and vast lands we now knowRead MoreThe Colonization Of The New World1836 Words   |  8 PagesThe colonization of the New World by the English began after Queen Elizabeth passed in 1603. This is when King James I signed a treaty with Spain ending decades of warfare after succeeding to the throne and needing new sources of income, the British decided to act on what they had previously ignored for a variety of reasons. The first colonies formed into two distinct regions, the Chesapeake and New England. Although both regions were colonize d by persons of English descent, they contrasted politicallyRead MoreThe Colonization Of The New World Essay2310 Words   |  10 Pagesthat the new world, where these slaves were being sent to, had never before been colonized by the Europeans. This meant that only the native populations cultures were in place in both North America and South America, along with the Caribbean islands. As the Western European peoples colonized the territories, alongside the slaves that worked the plantations there, a new culture never before seen began to emerge. It was during this time that the diaspora of these African people created new prosperityRead MoreEuropean Colonization Of The New World1224 Words   |  5 PagesEuropean colonization of the New World began during the European age of exploration and following the discovery of resources in the New World. The various motives of the Spanish, British, and French imperialists were reflected in the political, economic, and social changes that occur red in the areas each government claimed. These changes are very distinctive and led to drastic changes in their respective areas. Spanish conquistadors sought gold and treasure from uncharted lands. Backed by the infantileRead MoreEuropean Exploration And Colonization Of The New World1248 Words   |  5 Pagespolitical, economic, and social reasons for European exploration and colonization of the New World Power was the main focus for the Europeans to explore and colonize the new world. The Europeans realized by possessing colonies in the new world, they would grow and have more power to challenge other nations. The Spanish became a competitor because they started to realize how valuable the new land could be to their country by obtaining new riches from the land. By discovering these riches, the country wouldRead MoreColonization Of The New World s Mission939 Words   |  4 PagesColonization is the act of setting up a colony away from one s place of origin† (Colonization, 2015) .The history of the colonization of Massachusetts and Georgia is very interesting both of these two colonies were founded under basically the same premises which were seeking a better life. However, there are some similarities and differences that are evident. The founders of the New World’s mission were freedom. However, their number reasoning was spiritual freedom. They were tired of the ChurchRead MoreSpanish And British Colonization Of The New World970 Words   |  4 Pagescolonizing the new world relatively at the same time their colonization efforts we’re extremely different but had some overlapping similarities. The differences include the two nations different reasoning to explore the New World, their relationship with the Natives, and it types of governments that they attempted to set up. Although some of these differences might not seem as if they are very important, they helped one nation do you better than the other one when it came to colonization efforts. FirstRead MoreThe European Nations And The Colonization Of The New World898 Words   |  4 PagesNations short after the discovery of the New World sought out to colonize it for befits of there own nations. The three European Nations most involved in the colonization of the New World was Spain, France and England but each for there own unique reasons. The Spanish, the French and the English desire for wealth, religious expansion, and political advantages motivated them to attempt to colonize the New World. Although they were all able to set foot on the New World some where able to colonize enablingRead MoreColonization Or Imperialism Is Done By Treaties Or Agreements?1652 Words   |  7 Pages Colonization Lis Mendez AIU Online Abstract Prior to the modern or new era it was believed that conquers who conquered other lands had the right to take possession of that land, its riches, resources and even the people in order to achieve their own political agenda. Today the concept has changed, colonization or imperialism is done by treaties or agreements, they are acts in which governments negotiate with a less powerful country, they lead them to believe that their colonization will

The Emblem Of The Curse Of Domestic Violence - 1015 Words

Similarly,in France, Jacqueline Sauvage became the emblem of the curse of domestic violence when she was convicted of killing her abusive husband. Online campaigns were organized to support her and around 4, 00,000 signatures were collected online to support Jacqueline Sauvage (Yanan Wang,2016).French President Francois Hollande has reacted to an extensive plea that has mushroomed all over social networks to free Jacqueline Sauvage from prison and has pardoned her. SNS helps women to voice their problems that become embraced trans-locally, thus assisting in cross-border activism. #BringBackOurGirls was a powerful movement which transcended countries, religions, and ideologies, demanding safe homecoming of Nigerian school girls kidnapped by the armed group Boko Haram. The hashtag was shared by millions of people and many celebrities, including Michelle Obama jumped into the stream, demanding justice. The ease to access social networking sites have helped women located afar to come together in support of various movements; traditional techniques of involvement and organization were conceivably by no means as rapid (van Dijk 2000).The form of interaction in SNS can bring people together into cause-related strategies even from nook and cranny of the world. In this sense, SNS is a catalyst of the social process that gratifies the user and serves their interest. Social Networking Sites not only presents a platform to discuss their problems, but also to unite and voice theirShow MoreRelatedThe Advocacy Of Women s Rights2735 Words   |  11 Pagesactivist want to eradicate regarding inequality. This form of social stratification limits the literacy, revenue, and job opportunities of women. Next by blocking the use of sexual violence towards women, humanity can work its way to becoming a more equivalent civilization. By putting an end to violence such as rape, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and pornography that patriarchies tend to support, men and women can practice professional relationships. Finally through promoting sexual freedom, inRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pages53 3 Women in the Twentieth-Century World Bonnie G. Smith 83 4 The Gendering of Human Rights in the International Systems of Law in the Twentieth Century †¢ Jean H. Quataert 116 5 The Impact of the Two World Wars in a Century of Violence †¢ John H. Morrow Jr. 161 6 Locating the United States in Twentieth-Century World History †¢ Carl J. Guarneri 213 7 The Technopolitics of Cold War: Toward a Transregional Perspective †¢ Gabrielle Hecht and Paul N. Edwards 271 8Read MoreIgbo Dictionary129408 Words   |  518 Pagesback-hand): á »Å' nà  -à  chá »  ilÄ « aka Ä zá » ¥ He wants to take a bribe A. witness; surety: á »Å' bà ¹Ã¯â‚¬ ¥ onye aka ebÄ“ m He is my witness B. pledge: Kà   ife à   nà ²Ã¯â‚¬ ¥dá » ¥ n’aka ebÄ“ Let this (thing) stand as a pledge left hand toothache A. stinginess B. rigid discipline C. force; violence right hand (e.g. some people cannot bear to inflict injury on other even in treatment, as in incision of abscess, injection, etc.) be stronger than (lit. hand to be greater than hand): I am stronger than he illicit gin (lit. made by hand) one’s

The Kite Runner free essay sample

The story of the Kite Runner is fictional, but it is rooted in real political and historical events ranging from the last days of the Afghan monarchy in the 1970s to the post-Taliban near present-day. Hosseini also pulls from his own memories and experiences growing up in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of Kabul and his adaptation to life in California. Khaled Hosseini’s aim was to not only call attention to the devastation in Afghanistan; he set out to remind the world that before he last few decades under the world’s scrutinizing eye highlighting the negativity of the country, Afghanistan was a generally peaceful nation. Afghanistan gained international attention after the coup of 1973. From 1933 until 1973 Afghanistan was ruled by monarchy. On July 17th 1973 power was seized from the monarchy and by April 1978 the power of the country lied in the hands of the PDPA or the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kite Runner or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The military coup was nearly bloodless, but was still a very frightening time for the people of Kabul who heard rioting and shooting in the streets; as is depicted through the eyes of Amir, the protagonist of The Kite Runner. The PDPA instituted many political and social reforms in Afghanistan, including abolishing religious and traditional customs. The reforms incensed groups of Afghans who believed in adherence to traditional and religious laws. 1979 brought the beginning of an occupation by the Soviet Army which would last a decade. This is the historical point in the Kite Runner where the protagonist and his father leave Afghanistan. The Muslim internal forces, or mujahedins, were represented by the character Farid and his father who engaged in the resistance against the Soviets on the side of Islam. In 1992, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the mujahedins finally won Afghanistan and converted it to an Islamic State. Despite the Soviet withdrawal, there was still a great deal of infighting and unrest among rival militias within the country. Unrest made everyday ife in Afghanistan during this time unsafe. In The Kite Runner, Hosseini chooses the figure Rahim Khan to represent a voice of reasoning. Khan describes the fear in Kabul during this time; â€Å" The infighting between the factions was fierce and no one knew if they if they would live to see the end of the day. Our ears became accustomed to the rumble of gunfire, our eyes familiar with the sight of men digging bodies out of piles of rubble. Kabul in those days was as close as you could get to that proverbial hell on earth. Khan’s description of the situation in Kabul directly reflects Kabul in the 1990s and also present day Afghanistan and the Middle East as a whole. The Taliban is a internationally and infamously known fundamental Muslim movement. A negative retrospective surrounds the Taliban movement and militia due to their reputation of terror reeking, however in 1996 when the Taliban first took control of Kabul, their presence was welcomed. The country and populus were vulnerable after many years of violence and insecurity in Afghanistan. To describe the public reaction Hosseini employs Rahim Khan once again; â€Å" We all celebrated in 1996 when the Taliban rolled in and put an end to the daily fighting† However, soon after their arrival life in Afghanistan had become dangerous once again under their corrupt leadership. The Islamic community became divided by what can be best described as an Iron Curtain. Although a disagreement between the Sunni and Shiite of Islam has always been present, the Taliban developed the separation into a tangible battle. The Taliban, as Sunni fundamentalist supremacists, systematically massacred Shiites including the Hazara people. In The Kite Runner, we see how the Taliban used fear and violence to control the people of Afghanistan, for example at the frequent and very explicit and public executions Assef held in Ghazi Stadium. Hosseini’s stance on the separation of Islam can be best observed through the relationship of Amir, a Sunni Pashtun, and his servant, Hassaan, a Shiite Hazara. The friendship of Amir and Hassan was partly inspired by Hosseini’s own relationship with Hossein Khan, a Shiite Hazara cook that worked for his family. Khaled Hosseini and Hossein Khan developed a relationship similar to that of Amir and Hassans ; both Amir and the author are identified as Pashtuns while Hassan and Hossein Khan as Hazaranseven the names of the servants of the Pashtuns seem similar. The social stature and ethnic differences of the two boys is the main factor of interest in The Kite Runner. The primary conflict of racism in the novel is against the Hazara, who practice Shia Islam. The dominant group is the Pashtuns who practice Sunni Islam. The Hazara are generally treated very inhumane in Afghanistan. They are the poor population of the country and the racism against them in Afghanistan is reflected in the novel through their treatment. Hosseini’s even includes how the Hazara are identified in the country stating they are immediately recognizable having stereotypical mongolian traits such as a flat nose and pointed cheek bones. Some characters call Amirs childhood friend Hassan a mice-eating, flat-nosed, load-carrying donkey. Amir and his father use the division between Pashtun and Hazara to oppress them in the most insidious of ways, as they pretend to be close to Hassan and Ali, while keeping them at an arms distance as servants. When Amir and his wife adopt Hasaans son Sohrab, Amir protests, I have to deal with the communitys perception of our family. People will ask. They will want to know why theres a Hazara boy living with our daughter. What do I tell them? In some sense, the persecution is a prevalent theme all the way through the book because, according to the author Hosseini, the disenfranchised, displaced Afghans find the need to hold on to some remnant of power, specifically by discriminating against the Hazara. Amir’s view of the Hazara barely changes although Hassan made many sacrifices for Amir and was truly his only friend. Baba has a similar relationship with Ali, Hassans father. Amirs grandfather adopted Ali as his own son, and Babas brother, but his role is always as a servant. This may be the authors way of reflecting on the separation of the Islamic community and a view into the mind of Afghansthe separation will and must always exists in their minds as long as there is unrest in Afghanistan; after extended trauma internally it may be the only way they can capture an identity or image of who they may be. After the events of September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghal of Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. This is also when Hosseini began working on the Kite Runner, finishing a year later in 2002 and publishing the novel in 2003. Initially he considered abandoning the entire project, but with the defeat of the Taliban, he felt is was even more important to tell his story to the world. Hosseini did not return to Kabul until after the publication of The Kite Runner in 2003 and much of his portrayal of Afghanistan after the Soviet takeover is based on research. Hosseini’s choice of time period corresponds with his own life. In 1980, The Hosseinis were granted political asylum by the United States after being relocated for several years in Paris due to the Soviet invasion. Amir and Baba also relocate to the United States during this period of unrest for Afghanistan. Structurally, The Kite Runner and the life of Khaled Hosseini can be divided into three sections: memories of pre-conflict Afghanistan, adjusting to life in America, and returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The intimate examination of relationships amid the fraught environment of Afghanistan were Hosseinis attempt to give a voice to the Afghan people. Hosseini offers a detailed, human account of life and survival in Afghanistan by giving the people a voice and a story, not just a negative image seen by outside eyes. In a 2003 interview Hosseini expressed joy stating, â€Å"I get daily e-mails from Afghans who thank me for writing this book, as they feel a slice of their story has be told by one of their own. † In 2006, Hosseini was named a Goodwill Envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. His commitment to do a service for his people goes beyond his literature and shows the passion behind his intentions. After becoming inspired by a trip to Afghanistan he establish The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a nonprofit which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan; all while he still resides in Northern California. A negative image of Afghanistan has been built since its government has been corrupted. In the resolution of the novel Amir discovers Hassan was actually his half-brother. This revelation gives perspective to the entire situation of Afghanistan. Hassan and Amir came from separate backgrounds, and are different ethnicities they were family the entire time. Just as the Shiite and Sunni have different beliefs and the Pashtun and Hazara are from different backgrounds in the end there is a common blood shared and that is the Islamic religion. Despite their differences, their origin is the same and as one they create a family. Khaled Hosseini wrote The Kite Runner to bring a new, more positive kind of attention to his country. Although fictional, the relationships and situations in The Kite Runner depict reality rooted in real political and historical events of Afghanistan. The social impact of The Kite Runner was widespread. The contemporary novel provided insight into historical events from a not-so-distant past, sparking interest in previously ill-informed readers. Hosseini enabled readers to envision history by contextualizing it through a well fleshed out character. The world, particularly the United States, is very ignorant and biased to the situation of the Afghan people more so after the event of 9/11. Coincidentally, 9/11 occurred six months into Hosseini’s work on The Kite Runner. The times were catastrophic but for Hosseini the timing a propitious. The Kite Runner became an international bestseller. The book served to bridge the cultural divide and surmount headlines with its story of a young boy contending with political and personal turmoil. 2001 was the year many Americans first learned where Kabul, the country’s capital, was and who the Taliban were. To a great extent, Americans had pictured Afghanistan as a land of cave-dwelling terrorists. The Kite Runner helped fill in that very rudimentary picture. Its cultural richness, accounts of ethnic conflicts, even its evocation of annual children’s kite contests helped the world build a more humane prospect on Afghanistan. Despite the impact The Kite Runner had on the world, the effect in Hosseini’s homeland, Afghanistan was very different. Afghans experienced outrage in contrast to the positive response brewing from everywhere else. When the film version of the Kite Runner was released, Americans sympathized with the character of Hassan, who was raped in an alleyway by Assef for defending his Pashtun companion Amir. In Afghanistan the rape scene triggered threats of violence against the three Afghan child actors who appear in the film, demands that the scene be cut, articles about Hollywood exploitation — and an ensuing P. R. disaster for Paramount, which had to delay the film’s release until the kids were safely out of Afghanistan. The children and their guardians had been relocated to an unnamed city in the United Arab Emirates for the safety because controversy of the Kite Runner caused tensions to boil so high. Nonetheless, Hosseini’s project was a success. He provided insight for the world into what was really happening in Afghanistan beyond the headlines. In a humane retrospective, he showed a completely different side of Afghanistan. Usually stories about Afghanistan fall into â€Å"Taliban and war on terror† or â€Å"narcotics† — the same old things. The Kite Runner was the story about family life, about customs, about the drama within a household, a window into a different side of Afghanistan. The Kite Runner delve into a world of confusion, in the midst of more confusion but still provided a crystal clear image and storyline that was easily relatable, even as fiction. The War helped the book become published but The Kite Runner is still embraced even now. By putting a face on international news Hosseini helped demystify Afghanistan for a lot of people. The Kite Runner not only affected individuals, but a whole generation who grew up seeing the biased headlines, and the speech of ignorant, ill-informed people. All of a sudden Afghanistan has became a real place and Afghans have became real people. The parallels between life here and the life of the people in a completely remote country were obvious but before the Kite Runner there was never anything to connect to. Now when there’s a news story about Afghanistan — be it a bombing or an attack on a village — subconsciously, now registers on a very personal level. In a sense, its as if The Kite Runner has made us more human; revitalizing the emotions we feel, the connections we make, and making us more aware of our conscience.