Kite Runner

Alex Carde The rise of the Taliban traces back to the Reagan presidency when he did not fulfill his promises to Afghanistan after the Afghan-Soviet War. From there Islamic Fundamentalists formed an extremist’s party known as “mujahideen” or as we know it, The Taliban. The Taliban has continuously used questionable tactics to run their regions and are constantly under scrutiny from western nations such as the United States. One problem in particular is their treatment of women. The Taliban also resents western influence, which is a main source of their bad reputation through their unwillingness to conform. They look at the United States as revealing and barbaric through its culture and hobbies. In the Middle East they are also convinced that public execution and brutality is acceptable, which is one of the top reasons their tactics are so scrutinized. The real problem is that they are very close-minded minds and they believe that everything they do is gospel and anyone who differs or goes against it is completely wrong, no ways around it. When they took away the rights of women in the 1990s, the Taliban believed that what they were doing was moral because of their anti-American sentiments regarding the American attitude towards women’s education and sexuality. The Taliban believe that taking away women’s rights will protect the Islamic people from corrupt western influences. In the Middle East, women are restricted from education among other things. In October of 2012, 14 year old, Malala Yousafzai, was shot in Pakistan by a Taliban soldier when she spoke out in protest for women’s education. The Washington Post said, “Many Pakistanis view Yousafzai, who also promoted literacy and peace, as a symbol of hope in a country long beset by violence and despair”. According to the Post, not only did the country lose a member of society, but hope for change from public humility and mistreatment. The New York Times posted that the Taliban officials saw Yousafzai as an “obscenity” and felt that it was necessary to shoot her. The Times also posted a stat stating “nine out of 10 Afghan women were subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological abuse” The Taliban feel so strongly against giving children a westernized education that they perform immoral and unjust acts in order to prevent this. The difference in ideals between Americans and Muslims is a main reason why there is so much tension between the two groups. The lack of education relates directly to the lack of opportunity Hassan was given in Kite Runner. Hassan’s lack of education shows that the Taliban’s restriction on education is not limited to just women: they restrict all people, young, old, rich and poor, from getting a western education in order to eliminate any pro-western sentiments they might have. Unfortunately the more people that point out the Taliban is wrong in their ideals, there are more deaths caused by the Taliban. The Taliban is also so anti-America because they look at the United States as a group of sex-driven individuals. They see the music, movies and clothing women and girls wear in the US as scandalous, which is part of the reason why the Taliban have so many restrictions on the women in their countries. Along with sex, the Taliban is also a anti-gay, which Hosseini describes as very ironic. Countless times throughout the novel younger boys are raped my elder males in the Afghan society. In the beginning of the novel, Hassan is raped by Assef. Again, later in the novel, when Amir is at the orphanage with the Sohrab who “resembles a girl”, showing he had been raped by the soldier. It is all ironic that the Taliban can be so close-minded to the point that they do not even realize they are contradicting themselves. When the boy is brought to America with Amir he continues the symbolism of the younger generations being more pro-America. Amir also shows this by moving to America on his own and putting the destruction of Afghanistan in his past. Through symbolism and irony the Taliban reveals their reasons for being anti-western. Another issue with the Taliban is their use of public executions. As these are done, not only do they hurt the ones being murder, for mostly reasons including religion or discrimination, but the younger generations that watch these that are scarred for life and raised thinking that this behavior is normal and acceptable. In order to end the Taliban’s questionable methods outside sources must start with the younger generations to make sure they know it is not ok to follow in their elders foot-steps. Just this July a woman was killed an hour outside of Kabul for adultery, a religious crime not legal. There is a video tape of her being shot nine times as one of the men yells out “God is great”. Not only did they have executions during the time period of the book, but there have still been no advancements in the government and this continues to happen today. In Kite Runner there are public executions at the football arena as Amir tries to find the boy. He is sickened to come back to Afghanistan and see what it has turned into.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-10-09/world/35499088_1_malala-yousafzai-taliban-insurgents-taliban-atrocities http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/opinion/friedman-what-romney-didnt-say.html http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/afghanistan/120708/taliban-afghanistan-public-execution-adultery