Thursday, November 5, 2009

Kite Runner Fishbowl #3: Chapter 12

Your goal today: Try to bring in a quotation from the text.

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107 comments:

  1. Hey guys it's Dakota! I'm not at school so I'll be blogging from home for this one.

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  2. Dakota-Who am I suppose to eat lunch with now? Gilbert? haha

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  3. I forgot how to long in, so this is just a test.

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  4. Hi Meg! and Emily shh Gilbert is probably reading this haha. So, I have a question. Why wouldn't Amir tell Soyraya his secret after she told him hers?

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  5. Baba seems alot happier now, do you guys think it's because they no longer have what they did, it seems like Baba respects life more. And now Amir works and helps, stands up, and is more of an individual.

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  6. I think that the respect that Amir is giving baba is just really because he's older, and I think that their relationship is falling apart.

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  7. I agree with what Jake just said. Baba doesn't have all his friends from Afghanistan, so he is kind of forced to spend more time with Amir now.

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  8. I agree with what Kristin said in the inner circle. I also believe that Baba and Amir got closer when they moved to America because they only had each other. But I also think that Baba misses the past more than Amir does, which at times creates tension between them. Their relationship I think has also matured because Amir has grown up and he can't be much of a "parental" figure any more, Amir can now make his own choices.

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  9. Dakota- Good question The only Answer I can come up with is that he is too embarrassed and he dosent want her to think he is weird.

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  10. I think that Baba gained a ton of respect when Amir decided to mary. " He hung up. We looked at each other. I burst into giggles. Baba joined in" pg 162

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  11. Dakota - I think Amir wold not tell Soraya his secret because he wants to leave his old life behind and does not want to anyone to know about the day in the alley. I don't think he wants to bring his old secret into his new life with Soraya.

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  12. I disagree with Nick. I think that Baba thinks of Amir as more of a man now. I do think that Baba doesn't like what Amir does sometimes, but he thinks of him more as his son now.

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  13. Dakota- In a way Amir's secret is different than that of Sorria's. I think that Amir will eventually tell her but not until he feels ready. Plus, he does not want Baba to know

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  14. Dakota,

    The reason Amir didn't tell Soraya his secret is because he is so ashamed of what he did. On page 165 Amir says "I suspected there were many ways in which Soraya Taheri was a better person than me. Courage was just one of them." So Amir recognizes that she told him a huge secret, but he still doesn't want to admit his.

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  15. MegR-I think Baba starts to appreciate life more since he finds out he has terminal cancer. When people find out they don't have much time to live they start to appreciate what they have. Also, Amir becomes more independent because he knows he will have to be when Baba is gone.

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  16. Dakota, I think that Amir wouldn't tell Soraya his secret because he was afraid of what she would think. Much like how she was hesitant to tell him her secret. I think Amir believes that his secret is far worse or not forgivable event of what he did. What if Amir did tell Soraya his secret? How do you think she would have reacted?

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  17. Do you think Babas cancer will change anything? For good or bad?

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  18. Austin- yes, I think that Amir let go of the bad relationship because they both are men and because Baba found out that he had cancer they will show that they both love each other.

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  19. Hey Dakota! What I think about your question is that Amir didn't tell Soyraya his secret was because he was still regretting what he didn't do and what he should have done.

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  20. Dakota- I think that Amir didn't tell Soraya his secret because he is still ashamed of not helping Hassan. He doesn't want to remember his past.

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  21. Even if he doesn't want her to know won't it make the guilt worse if he always knows?

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  22. EricaW- I think agree with you but i do think later on in there life that he will get his seceret off his chest

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  23. I agree with Chase because now Baba doesn't have people to compare Amir to. Amir works, graduated, writes stories and is going to college, so to Baba Amir is doing great right now. Of course he wants Amir to go into something "real" like law, but Baba accepts him and still is proud of him in a way, he just doesn't show it greatly.

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  24. To the class - Why does Soraya's father have such a problem with Amir talking with his daughter?

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  25. Dakota -
    I think he is scared of what she will think by sharing his secret. We all go through that sort of feeling with telling people secrets. Even if someone trusts us enough to tell us their biggest secret, we can't always return that trust. I think that this is how Amir feels about sharing his secret. Also, Amir has kept this secret about Hassan for so many years that I think he is afraid of what she will think if she finds out about what he witnessed and didn't stop.

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  26. Kristen- I think Baba needs to stop being so stubborn and just take the help. It is going to hurt him and hurt Amir even more. It would be best so swallow his pride and get help.

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  27. Erica...
    I think it is also interesting how even though Soraya told her secret he was still hesitant to tell his.

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  28. I agree with you Jake. But do you think that Amir is still distant from him. even with the cancer.

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  29. Emily- I agree completely, Baba is starting to quit being so stubborn and he is finnaly realizing that what he has now is something that isn't going to last very much longer.

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  30. Erica- Yes, I think that Baba's cancer could possibly be good. He seems not to regret life and he respects Amir for who he is.

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  31. Dakota- I think Amir looks at it like he's already spent all this time holding it in, he has kind of forgot about it and he feels like the guilt and the worry will eventually disapear. So he doesn't see why not just forget about it and not tell her, he doesn't see the harm.

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  32. Eric- I agree with you about how Baba respected Amir more and I also think that he thinks Amir is really growing up now.

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  33. Devon-I honestly think she would understand because she seems like a forgiving and trustworthy person because she confided in Amir about her sin.

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  34. Dakota-
    I think Amir didn't tell Soraya his secret because he's still not able to face his past. Soraya shows courage by telling Amir about her secret. I think Amir appreciates this, but he doesn't have enough couage to do the right thing by telling her what his secret is.

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  35. Erica- I think that Baba's cancer will change a lot. Amir was worried about what he was going to do when Baba was gone. Obviously, he is going to have a family now to take care of. But I think that with Baba gone, Amir might feel lost for a while because Baba was kind of his mentor throughout his life.

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  36. Does anyone think that he will ever come out and tell Soraya his seceret about Hanassan?

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  37. Kaity-
    I think the reason General Taheri has such a problem with Amir talking to his daughter is because they aren't married, and in Afghan culture that wasn't seen as acceptable. His daughter already had a reputation, and he didn't want to add to it.

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  38. Erica- I think Baba's cancer will make things worse and better. Since Baba and Amir didn't have the opportunity to become close it makes things worse. In a way when Baba passes, Amir will be albe to do what he desires without getting criticized.

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  39. Austin-I think that Amir put the bad relationship behind him and started a new one with baba because he found out he doesn't have that much more time to be with him, And that he wants the best for Amir.

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  40. On page 147 Amir says he could have a bruised ego for talking to Soraya. Why do the immigrants still live in their traditional ways and determine what is right and wrong based on how they grew up. Even in a new country they still live like they are in their own.

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  41. I agree with Meg when she says that Baba is respecting his life more. Because i think Baba took the things he had for granted. So now he is seeing life totally different.

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  42. Kaity: Her father is a respectable man, and like Baba had warned Amir thingbs "hadn't worked out" a time before, maybe he doesn't approve of her and he is very...picky in a sort of way and has his mind set on one type of man that he see's suit for his daughter and doesn't want it any other way, and Amir isn't that type.

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  43. Meagan- Do you think it is very huge for Amir to tell Soraya? It was not his fault

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  44. Do you think Dr. Schneider (the Russian doctor) was offended when Amir said "I'm sorry doctor. This isn't going to work out." (p.155) Do you think he even understood why they wanted a different doctor.

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  45. Kaity-I think her father has such a problem because maybe his is afraid of her running off again like she did with the Afghan.

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  46. Kaity- In their culture talking to a girl alone that is not your wife, isn't normal. Her father doesn't the stories to come up again with Sorria, and hes trying to regain his families name.

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  47. To the class -
    Why is Baba so stubborn in getting treatment?

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  48. Do you think Amir felt guilty when Soraya told him how she taught her servant how to read since Amir never taught Hassan?

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  49. Dakota- I think that Amir thinks if he doesn't tell anyone it will eventually go away and so will the guilt that he has had for so long.

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  50. Kaity- Soraya's father had a problem with Amir talking to her because of what Soraya had done by running off with the Afghan man. Soraya's father doesn't really trust anyone it seems, so he is worried that he might lose his daughter to Amir.

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  51. Austin- I think the author is showing that cancer is a bad thing no matter what and they have to overcome it. I think Amir is hurting inside. But, Soraya showing up at the hospital really helped Amir.

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  52. Emily i have to disagree with you I think that Baba having cancer and them being together more will bring them closer. In my opinion there relationship is already starting to grow.

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  53. Erica- I think that Amir has been trying to become closer with Baba even before he has cancer. When he finds out that Baba does have cancer he still keeps his relationship and if not tries harder to be with him more before he dies.

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  54. Do you think Amir and Baba's relationship has strengthened and become more father-son; ever since they moved to California?

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  55. Reece-

    I think the reason they still act in their traditional ways is because that's how they were raised, and it would be difficult just to drop your habits, even if you moved halfway across the world.

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  56. Emily- Yes, i agree. But most boys learn how to be a man from their dads. Do you think he learned that from him?

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  57. Anne- I don't think that Baba fears death. It seems like he is almost inviting it. I think that he feels that his life has been fulfilled and he is ready to leave it. He just wants to make sure that Amir is truly a man before he dies.

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  58. Chase- I agree what Baba was a mentor and it is obvious that Amir is scared of what he will do. But back to the question I think that Baba's cancer will makes things change for the good. I think that Amir has been living in Baba's shadow for his whole life, and now that Baba is "on his way out" it causes him to do the growing up he never did when he was a kid. He can also create a name for himself. Which is definitely a positive.

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  59. Erik, I agree with you. What I meant was Baba getting cancer is good since it will bring Amir closer to Baba, but bad since they are just starting to bond with little time before Baba dies.

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  60. Emily- Definitely. He probably thought about when he used to read the stories to Hassan and realized he could have done more, like on the hill he said he didn't feel like reading to him. Over the years he could have taught him to read instead of just using this sort of power rover him and having to read to him. Instead, Amir enjoyed this, playing with Hassan and making fun of him for not understanding a word or changing the stoory his own way and Hassan just sat there un-knowingly.

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  61. Kaity-
    I think the doctor did understand why they wanted a new doctor but at the same time he had to have been a little offended by it. It is completely understandable that Amir would ask for a different doctor with what they lived through in Afghanistan, but I think it was a bit insensitive of him because doctors take an oath and the doctor couldn't treat them differently because of the rough past between Afghanistan and Russia.

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  62. Anne- I think why Baba doesn't want treatment is a pride thing. If he shows any weakness, to him thats somebody stealing his pride, witch Baba says is the worst crime. Also he says that he doesn't like any sympathy

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  63. Reese- Sometimes when i'm reading i feel that Baba is not making as much as an effort to get closer. What do you think?

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  64. Megan- I think Baba's and Amir's relationship got better since they moved but I don't think Amir will totally have that father-son relationship with Baba.

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  65. Megan- I think that he has more of a relationship with Baba unlike in Afghanistan. I think they grew closer because when in Afghanistan they had nothing to bond over. Baba worked and Amir was just a little kid. When the Russians came Baba and Amir had to leave and I think this is where they started to have more of a relationship than they ever had. In America all they have is each other and now that Amir is older I think Baba respects him more.

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  66. Emily-
    Yes, I do think Amir felt guilty when Soraya was telling him that she taught her servant to read. On page 151 Amir says "'Yes, I lied.' I thought of how I had used my literacy to ridicule Hassan. How I had teased him about words he didn't know."

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  67. Erica- I don't think Amir really got taught the quality's of a good father by Baba. Baba expected too much from Amir and Amir couldn't deliver. The only activity the two could enjoy together was kite running. I think Baba not supporting Amir with what Amir enjoys will affect Amir later.

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  68. Reece- I think they are afraid to let go of their traditional views because it is a comforting feeling to them to live like they always have.

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  69. To the class-
    Does anyone know what it means when the doctor says to Amir, "As you can see, the cancer's metastasized." (pg. 159)?

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  70. Kaity..
    What I was thinking was that Baba felt like it would take his pride away to go to a Russian doctor. And he didn't want to have to go through that frustration.

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  71. Anne: Because over his life he used to be rich and in power and no one had to help him in anything. But now that he has cancer and he needs treatment he isn't used to that feeling and he doesn't understand how he is supposed to process it. I think he also is worried about Amir, because obviously it will take money and a lot of time, and he doesn't want to stress out Amir about it.

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  72. If Baba had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in his life and when Amir was younger do you think it would have changed his out look on treatment or death?

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  73. I agree with Chase. Amir is the person who wants Baba to go to the hospital to make sure Baba's alright. Baba wants to make sure Amir is prepared to live on his own. Baba does feel like his life is complete and he accomplished the things he wanted to.

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  74. I think that a reason why Baba is starting to respect Amir more is because in america Baba is having a hard time like keeping up and he does not have a very successful job. But Amir has graduated high school he is succeding in school and will have a much better job than Baba in the future.

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  75. Sean - But it seems hypocritical of him to say that he doesn't like sympathy. He had sympathy towards Ali and Hassan. He had sympathy for Kamal and his family. He has sympathy for so many people but cannot accept sympathy for himself? I understand the pride that he has, but it just seems so hypocritical for him to not accept sympathy.

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  76. CLASS

    Do you think Sorrias desire to teach will get in the way of her relationship with her dad, and will Amir stand up for his new wife on this decision?

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  77. Could the title "Kite Runner" maybe also be addressing Amir representing the "Kite" and 'running' away from his guilt? Or running away to America..?

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  78. Class:
    Do you think Baba is being difficult about the treatment because of Amir, and he doesn't want to put that kind of stress on him on top of them moving and college and all the things they have had to go through, or is it just he's not used to not being in power or charge of this?

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  79. Chase- I think that the doctor is telling him that the cancer is spreading throughout his body, and he's hinting at the fact that death is coming for Baba.

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  80. Emily- Yeah like in the beginning of the book when Amir was still very young he expected him to act like a man. And it was frustrating because he was never there to show him.

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  81. Erica- I feel that Baba has not really been in Amir's life as much as Amir had hoped. Therefore, i feel like Amir has not learned to be a "man" from his father. Back in Afghanistan Amir was always listening behind a closed door listening to his father talk to his friends. I think the closed door is very symbolic in the way their relationship is. Amir wants a relationship, but his father is very humble.

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  82. Chase...
    It means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

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  83. Erica G- Well I respect what your saying but I disagree. I think Baba has tried a lot harder to become closer to Amir before he dies. When in Afghanistan Baba made no effort to try and become closer. Amir would try like when he wrote short stories to show his dad. When he would bring them to him Baba wouldn't ask to read them and showed no interest. Baba makes more of an effort in America like in the flea market he always jokes about with him about Sonraya.

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  84. Chase-
    I looked up metastasized and it means it has spread throughout the body. So maybe, the doctor's putting it out in a nice way that death is rapidly coming up. Baba will soon die because the cancer is spreading and there may not be a cure.

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  85. To the class

    Thus far, what do you think that the kite is symbolizing?

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  86. Meg-

    I think one of the reasons Baba is being difficult about the treatment is because he doesn't want to put the stress on him, but also because he has always been very stubborn and strong-willed, even in Afghanistan.

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  87. Anne- To the understanding of Baba, sympathy is weakness. He does not want to look weak in front of the people that respect him. He has done everything for himself his whole life, so why stop now?

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  88. Cody- I agree with Cody something will happen and his sins will be gone.I think he will finally open up to Soraya and I don't think she will be upset i think she will almost be happier that she can trust he and relate even more then before.

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  89. Kaity- So do you feel the Amir will never step up as a man and defend what he feels. Or do you think if his father dies that would change him.

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  90. Eric- I completely agree with you. I think that he also became happier now that Amir is happier in America. Because I got the impression that Amir wasn't as happy as Baba in Afghanistan. Which in any relationship if both people are not on the same page, there will be automatic conflict. So, in Afghanistan Baba was happy and Amir wasn't. And originally in America Baba wasn't happy but Amir was and it still caused tension. But in my opinion I think that Baba's outlook on happiness changed for the better. Causing both Amir and Baba happy and in a way fixing their relationship.

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  91. Chase - Metastasized means to spread or transform in an especially dangerous way. So it has to mean that Baba is going to die soon and the cancer is taking over his body.

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  92. Reece- Yes thats true but it only seems like he tries when it comes to his stories.

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  93. Nick- I feel like the symbol of the kite is still kind of obscure. But for the most part, I think that the kite represents the relationship between Amir and Hassan. Perhaps, the kites getting cut represents the breaking of the relationship between Amir and Hassan.

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  94. Emily- That makes sense about how that event was with the kite and then Amir is really "running" away from what happened by going to the United States.

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  95. Meg- I agree with erica, I think Baba is resisting treatment because he feels very independent and self-motivated and he doesn't want other people to help him survive because when he grew up he always stood up for himself.

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  96. Nick- As before in previous fishbowls I still think that the kite symbolizes what happened with Hassan and Assef if the ally. The kite is a symbol of how it happened and not matter what nothing will change how Amir didn't go to help his friend who would do anything for him.

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  97. Sean and Anne- I think it was the environment that Baba grew up in. I think he learned to always hold his head up high in front of his people. I agree that he doesn't show sympathy for himself in order to maintain his status. Also, Baba will not except free money. He's always worked in Afghanistan and that's the way he believes it will always be.

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  98. Sean - Other than Amir, he isn't really surrounded by people that truly respect him anymore. He isn't back in Afghanistan where everyone knows him and looks up to him. He realizes that he isn't as respected as he was in Afghanistan and that he has practically nothing here in America. So I just don't really understand why he feels the need to continue to have so much pride as to refuse all sympathy.

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  99. Erica:

    I think that Baba is in a sort of denial, he doesn't want to face it because it will end with Amir alone, and he doesn't feel like Amir can handle himself. But you had said they were in Afganistan, right now they are in America.
    I also feel like this is sort of a coincidence, because Baba talked about America being "the brash savior" (pg 125) then after they got there he got cancer and is probably going to die.

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  100. Reece- When he went up the the general one of the first things he told him was that he was a writer.

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  101. Erica- I think that Amir will not change how he acts until his father dies because then he will have no one to look after him which should make him stronger.

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  102. Emily- To answer your question from way earlier, I do not think that Amirr felt guilty when Soraya told him how she taught her servant how to read and he never taught Hassan because he enjoyed the power. He loved being able to read his stories to Hassan because it was one thing he was better at and it was a reason for him to be with Hassan. He would use the excuse to read to Hassan so that Hassan would come to him. Also Amir's reaction to Soraya telling him that because he really didnt say anything.

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  103. Class:

    Why do you think the author of the book gave Baba cancer? What does it symbolize?

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  104. Melissa- I think the author gave Baba cancer so we could see the real relationship between Amir and Baba because their true feelings come out in times of desperation. I think it symbolizes the strength of a father-son relationship and how the events in their life can change that relationship.

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  105. Hi. I was not at school on thursday so i will have to respond now. Ch. 12 was a very big part of the whole book. Amir and Soraya are married, they try to have kids, Baba gets cancer. First off, I think that Amir didn't tell Soraya his secret because he was so ashamed of what he did. He was not a very good friend and so I think that he didn't want Soraya to think that if anything happened to her, that he wouldn't fight back. Second, Baba was being very stubborn about getting help with his cancer. He didn't want anyone to know about it but him and Amir. Not going to the doctor didn't really help Baba at all.

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