The Kite RunnerWEBQUEST

History

What happens in 1921?

Afghanistan becomes an independent nation. The Anglo-Afghan treaty was signed, a treaty of friendship between Afghanistan and Russia

What happens in 1933?

Kin Nadir Shah was assassinated, ascension of his son Muhammed Zahir Shah

With whom does Gen. Mohammed Daoud Khan make and alliance? Why?

Russia (Khrushchev), to help Afghanistan

1973 was a pivotal point in Afghanistan’s history. Why?

King Zahir Shah deposed & Daoud Khan (his cousin) became president and prime minister

Why does Osama shift his focus from the Soviet Union to the United States in 1988?

They bombed one of his training sites just outside of Kabul

In 1992, Afghanistan endures yet another coup.

Taken over by guerilla forces (the mujahedeen). They can’t unite the country, it breaks up into several independent zones, each with its own ruler

Why do most Afghans believe the Taliban takeover in 1993 is a good thing at first?

Hope for a united country, and some peace

Why do more than a million Afghans flee to Pakistan between the years of 1995-1999?

The Taliban

What was America’s answer to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001?

They invaded, and appointed Hamid Karzai as president

What trends to you see in history?

War

People invade, then leave, lots of infighting

Favouring of Pashtun values

What do these suggest about life for the average citizen?

Life is chaotic

Literacy levels are extremely low

Few modern medical facilities (years of war doesn’t allow you to develop much infrastructure)

They live a more subsistence lifestyle

What do they suggest about Afghan national identity and values?

People become more loyal to their tribes than the country itself

How does the country’s “basic information” affect its national identity?

No real national identity

No national anthem, flag was abandoned

Years of war and trial fighting makes it next to impossible to unify everyone

Religion and Faith

What are the differences between Sunni and Shiite Islam?

Like the difference between Catholics and Protestants

Happened after Mohammed’s death

Sunni: Recognize Abu Bakr as successor to Mohammed

90% of Muslims worldwide

Shiite: Recognize Ali ibn Abi Talib as successor

Accept different oral traditions and have different laws

How is Islam integral to Afghan culture?

Afghans live their live according to the tenets of Islam

Family is super important

They make yearly trips to Mecca

What are the basic tenets of Islam?

5 Pillars: 1)Faith, 2)Prayer, 3) Zakat (charity), 4) Fast (Ramadan), 5) Pilgrimage (Haji)

Monotheistic religion (one god), Allah

Prophet: Mohammed

What other religions have similar beliefs?

Christianity

Judiasm

Why do you think these religions, if they are so similar, seem to have difficulty getting along?

Seems to be human nature to fear the unknown

We view differences as threats, not just differences

Daily Life (Dress/Food/Recreation/Economy)

What does an Afghan citizen’s clothing choices suggest about his/her position in the culture?

Before the Taliban, clothing which reflected Western culture was popular in urban areas, more traditional in rural areas

Especially at weddings, your clothing choice indicates your position in society

What does traditional Afghan clothing suggest about cultural values?

Based upon what Islam teaches – modest dress

Religion is important

How do Afghan recreational activities illustrate cultural priorities?

They’re violent

Teamwork and communication are essential – for them, the group is important

Describe the Afghan economy. What are its current challenges? Why?

It’s hard to develop any economic infrastructure when you are constantly at war

85% of population are farmers, much of available land seized for poppy crops, which is ruining the land

No industry, no exports to speak of

Astronomical illiteracy rates

Women in Society

How have things changed/stayed the same since the Taliban lost power?

Basically, a lot of laws have changed, but attitudes haven’t

Ex: women can go to school, receive health care, gain employment, and they don’t have to wear burqas. BUT…women are still under the control of their husbands, and many still wear burqas, partly out of fear

Women are in parliament and military

Honour killing still happens

Explore how women’s role in society has developed in the last 40 years

40 years ago: Could wear whatever they wanted

Could go to university, work, etc

Under the Taliban: Women basically erased from society

Now: Women are in parliament, the military, in the Olympics and on t.v.

What challenges do modern Afghan women encounter? How are these similar/different to their mothers?

Still sold into marriage

Still jailed for offences men are not jailed for (adultery, running away)

Again, laws have changed, but women are fighting traditional attitudes

Tribal Relationships and Family

What role do tribes play in Afghan culture? Family?

Tribes provide protection, financial support, a means to resolve disputes

Developed along kinship lines (so you’re all related somehow)

On what cultural values does the Pashtunwali code place most importance?

“Pashtunwali” = the “rules” everyone in the tribe has to live by, in order to maintain honour

Honour, honour, honour

Honour depends upon: hospitality, revenge, women (keeping them in line), and money

What does it mean to be an outsider in Afghan society? Why are people excluded? What does this exclusion look like?

Excluded along ethnic and religious lines. Pashtuns on top, Hazaras on the bottom

People excluded because they look different and believe different things

Looks like: ethnic cleansing, confinement to one part of the country, few legal rights, barred access to social institutions

How is treatment of Afghan “others” similar/diferent from other cultures’ history of oppression?

Has happened throughout history. Dominant groups seem to always oppress those they deem unworthy

Holocaust

Russia under Josef Stalin

Rwandan genocide

America: pre civil rights era

Ireland: Catholics vs. Protestants