The Kite Runner

Under the Wikipedia encyclopedia there is a definition of what exactly is propaganda, and it also states that there are many different scales of it.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda) In fact it states that a form of propaganda is to appeal to one's emotions to change the state of peoples opinions. In my opinion after reading Kite Runner as far as this definition goes I am sure that this book is a minor stage of propaganda. The kite runner changed the view of how I view Afghanistan, I should be a book read nation wide, and I believe certain interest groups may use it to their advantage. The honor of the book made me relate the story to myself and so much more. I understand that many may be objective to my response as this book used as propaganda, but I will explain my reasoning.
I usually viewed propaganda as a negative thing but after my research I see it is only used to change peoples opinions. I my self had a distant cold view of Afghanistan. The was it has been portrayed and by sure using propaganda we have been told a different story of Afghanistan. After the heart breaking attacks on September 11 we were geared to view Afghanistan as our enemy filled with terrorism. Since then my mind has a different picture of life in Afghanistan and the way people are from there, as if there had been a wall put between them and us. This book has changed my mind completely by the Wikipedia definition I believe that means the book preformed the act of propaganda on my beliefs. You see this book made Afghanistan a place that sounded familiar, a place that could happen every where and a place that has gone through a lot of violence. With the story of Amir and the things he goes through it made it seem a familiar story, the events which he goes through change him forever! The social classes formed by difference of ancestry and bias. The violence encountered, and the search of Amir for approval from his Baba. The most emotional moving piece was Hassan and when he was rapped and latter killed by the Taliban. It just shows the suffering of the people and by Amir coming to America and starting from the bottom to later succeed. The whole story is moving and shows the determination they had to go through. It reminded me of the struggle my parents had to make to come here to America. Amir and his father came to avoid the invasion of their country my parents came to find a better life. The came from Mexico, the government was being run by corrupt official and my father worked as an accountant when the fishing press he worked for went out of business. My family was used to our big house by the sea side to arrive here in California to a small apartment like Amir and his Baba. I believe it changed my thoughts because it made the story familiar to me in a way and I see the struggle of the people.
I can definitely view why certain groups would want to use the book at their convenience. The United States might use certain parts of the book to associate it with justifying the invasion of the U.S to save the people of this oppression like the soon of Hassan, Sohrab. They would justify their attacks but in actuality to the Afghanistan people it may seem as another countries invasion and more violence. The way things are told lies in the way the person views the events. I could see how people here in America that are from the Middle East can use this book to show all others judging them their story. Many of those who live here now are running from the type of persecution taking place in Afghanistan. The may work at gas stations, and liquor stores by they are here like many others trying to find a better life for their offspring. It is a book string enough to portray many sides and that's why I believe it can be used to tell the stories of so many.
The change this book has had on myself is astonishing. I never thought I could get such a clear view of what is going on through a book. The book takes place in the 1970's yet the story relates to today 2006! I changed my mind of how I view things it cleared my foggy picture of how people live in Afghanistan. They are just one of the many country's being oppressed by ill willed rulers on their search for power. I think the change I made should be campus wide it should be read by all people. Not only campus wide but nation wide. This book adresses the feeling and emotions taking place in America as we speak. Every time I turn on a form of media their is something of the war, Afghanistan's, even talk shows of how Middle Eastern's are being discriminated in America today. People should have an open mind and view the world instead of thinking that America is it, there is more out there and we are so fortunate to live the way we do.
So I believe the book is propaganda because it changed my views. It was propaganda to me it touched my emotions and the way I think. I changed the book due to the book about Afghanistan and it's people. I relate it to the struggle of immigrants and discrimination. I feel fortunate to live in America. I feel fortunate to be a student trying to make something of my life and be able to accomplish things for my family. I am against invasion and war and oppression more than before. By the story of Amir and the things he endured he and Hassan represented so many others making the story come to life. Some may say it isn't good some may say it is great but the story is real and it should be told. I found out that the book is being made into a movie in 2007 and I think it is a great thing. The Kite Runner is a book of this era and the problems of today.