Thursday, October 21, 2010

Kite Runner Fishbowl: Chapter 12

Keep up your strong discussions!

Your special challenge of the day: Let's try to get FIVE different people in the hotseats today.

97 comments:

  1. Does Baba have so much pride that he is not willing to take any medicine for his cancer?

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  2. Some questions I had in this chapter was What do you think Amir will do when Baba dies? Also why won't Baba give the chemo a chance?

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  3. I think Baba really does have to much pride for himself and he also can be ignorant and i think that plays a huge role in why he wont take it

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  4. Is baba accepting the way that is amir is? or does he still want him to change?

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  5. On page 149 they make it seem like such a huge deal that Amir and Soraya are talking in the market, why is that?

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  6. jamie- I think baba want to show amir that he is strong so thats why he doesnt want to take any medicine.

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  7. I agree that since Baba is aging and is sick, he is realizing life is short and is beginning to be content with his son.

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  8. One thing I'm wondering is, In chapter 12 Amir says, "The sky darkened as a crowd gathered around us." Why does he always refer to the sky when something bad happens?

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  9. I think Baba has gone through alot in his life and his might just be ready to go. I do think pride has a lot to do with it he has helped alot of people in his life and it is differnt to accept help for once.

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  10. Alex:
    I think Amir will grow up and marry that girl. Amir will just live on and i think he will change alot.

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  11. Alex B.-
    I think that Amir will try to continue life in America and try to pursue his dream to be a writer. Also, not that Amir is engaged, he might try to start a family.

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  12. Alex:
    I think that once Baba passes away, he will struggle at first with the situation and possibly regret the fact that they never were able to have a really solid relationship. In the end, I think his goal is to just make him proud.

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  13. Jamie-
    I think Baba didn't take his medicine because he thought it wasn't going to do anything to help his sickness. Or maybe he doesn't have the money to get the treatment he needs.

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  14. Jenny,
    I thought that it could have been because they come from two different families, and they could be different race/religion or something of that sort

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  15. Jamie,
    I think he does have a lot of pride, but I also think that Baba is not willing to get help because it seems that he has always been independent. He also doesn't want people thinking they need to help him and give him sympathy

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  16. Alex-
    The reason that I think Baba won't give chemo a chance is his pride. On page 156 it says, "he got the same resolved look on his face as the say he'd dropped the stack of food stamps". I think he has too much pride and also views chemo as a charity, and he doesn't take charity from anyone.

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  17. Molly- He might refer to the sky alot maybe because of religion. Im not totally sure though.

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  18. Molly:
    I think it's just symbolism and imagery. It helps set the mood for the scene.

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  19. Drew, I can see Amir marrying that girl and becoming more of a man but I also can see another side where he is like timid and wont do anything with his life. I can see him changing for the better and changing for the worse

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  20. Jamie M to answer your question, I think that Baba does have a lot of pride and they may Baba more willing to die but also i don't think He is really happy with his life in America.. He misses his old home.

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  21. Jamie-

    I think Baba did not take his medicine because he maybe thought he was strong and didn't need medicine and also he could not afford the medicine.

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  22. Why does amir suddenly feel the need to talk to Soraya? Also why didn't he talk to her sooner?

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  23. Brad, i think he will marry that girl and grow up because in the end he just wants to make Baba proud.

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  24. Sarah-

    I think Baba is so prideful because he was very successful in his home country and nothing went wrong for him. He just can't get used to the idea that he might not be great anymore.

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  25. Sarah-
    If Baba died I think Amir would be very sad for a while but after a while he would move on with life with Soraya.

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  26. Molly L.
    Maybe the sky is always referred to because I think that the weather can affect the mood of the situation. For example, if it is raining, then you get the sense of sadness sorrow. Maybe the sky is a symbol for emotion.

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  27. Sarah,
    I still think it's weird though, cause all they are doing is talking... (:but it does make sense since it's a different culture and everything.

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  28. Brendan,
    I don't think he really just "suddenly" felt like talking to her, I think he had been working up to it more and more, and that is also why he didn't talk to her sooner.

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  29. Brendan- Amir maybe wants to start a family, maybe he is realizing it is time to stop following in Baba's footsteps and start his own family, and make Baba proud for once.

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  30. I think baba wouldn't want anyone to know about the cancer because they might think he will become weak and he is a strong guy and I dont tihnk he would like that.

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  31. In the end do you think Baba will die?

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  32. Brendan-

    He just started talking to her because he just met her in chapter 11.

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  33. Brendan:
    I think Amir is finally stepping out of his shell and trying to do something with his life. I think he realized to succeed, you need to be able to be outgoing.

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  34. Sarah,
    If Baba died Amir would probably evolve and get situated, plus he is just about to marry Soraya so he wouldn't be alone.

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  35. molly
    I think that the sky just symbolizes mood.

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  36. Drew,

    Yeah, I do think Baba will die because he is so sick, and if he continues to smoke (well, regardless of the smoking) he has cancer that is spreading, and he will die, I think

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  37. Drew,
    I think he will because this book seems to be about Amir's struggle throughout his life.

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  38. Drew I think in the end Baba will die because he has cancer and is really sick.

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  39. Drew- Yes I think Baba will die, maybe sooner that he should because he won't accept treatment.

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  40. Molly
    I think that it seemed to him that everything around him changed and the sky would darken because of the mood.

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  41. If baba died i think he would move on and settle his life,and all he would need is someone to be around and somneone to care about him , a.k.a soraya

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  42. Why did Baba ask amir not to tell anyone about his cancer?

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  43. I agree Connor. Soraya seems like his saving grace.

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  44. Drew-
    Yeah in the end I do think Baba will die because in the first chapter on page 2 it says, "I thought about Baba". Since it's in the past tense it makes it sound like he has already passed. Also the fact that he isn't doing anything to treat his cancer it would be nearly impossible for the cancer not to kill him.

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  45. Brendan,
    I think the reason why Amir didn't talk to Soraya sooner was because her father was around. When Amir stated talking to her he said he was more comfortable with out Soraya's dad around and with her mom there instead.

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  46. Baba seems very stubborn and doesn't want people to feel bad for him because he has lung cancer, but does anyone else think there is another reason for him telling Amir not to tell anyone?

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  47. sarah, because he didn't want to be treated any different then he was before, He doesn't want a lot of attention brought toward him.

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  48. Even if Baba died, Amir is pretty well set to start his own life in America, because he is getting married to Soraya, and Baba has done enough for Amir to be able to handle himself, but it will still be hard to lose the only parent you have ever known

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  49. how can BaBas pride effect who he is in america?

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  50. Brendan-
    I think Amir couldn't really talk to Soraya because she has a reputation and he did not want to add to that. Also, Amir's people have different customs and traditions on how they act towards each other.

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  51. Sarah-
    I think that Baba didn't want anyone to know about his cancer because he is so proud and he doesn't want anyone looking down on him, and thinking he is weak.

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  52. On page 159 it says, "Baba's cancer, like a cop showing mug shots of the killer to the victim's family", why do you think the doctor refers Baba's cancer to that?

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  53. On page 151 When Soraya is telling Amir that story about the girl that used to live with her and tells Amir about how she tried to teach her to read and write. Then Amir tries to avoid to topic because it reminded him of how he used to treat Hassan. For example on the same page Amir states,
    "I thought of how I had used my literacy to ridicule Hassan." Do you think this guilt will ever go away?

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  54. Do you think Baba doesn't want to use medicine because its agaisnt his religion?

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  55. Drew, I am also pretty positive like everyone else that baba will end up dying because if you dont take chemo for cancer you're almost guaranteed to die.

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  56. Sarah-
    I think Baba didn't want the attention that having cancer brings and Baba is the kind of guy that likes to keep things to himself.

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  57. Wow i think Leclaires story with the father from china and Baba not taking medicine or going to the doctors is pretty insane, but like she said its a cultural thing and i guess we will never understand it since , they have different views on it

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  58. Drew-

    I do think Baba will die in the end because of his sickness (cancer). If he does not take the medicine then the cancer will just keep spreading throughout his body.

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  59. Ariel, I don't think this will ever go away because he feels really guilty about how badly he treated Hassan in the past. I think that it will never go away.

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  60. Anthony T.
    I think that Baba's pride affects how he lives in America because Baba doesn't understand America's traditions and rules. Also, America is a new way of life and maybe Baba thinks that America takes away his accomplishments.

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  61. If Baba was in the hospital how was he able to go to the general to ask him if Amir could marry his daughter?

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  62. drew
    I think because of the his religion and i also think that he is just prideful, and does not want any help.

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  63. Drew-
    I don't think religion has anything to do with why Baba won't do chemo, Baba has no religion.

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  64. i think baba should have just takin the kimo

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  65. What will Amir do after he loses his father? Why wont his father take the treatment to get better?

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  66. When reading chapter 12 i found that Soraya's father does not really approve her and Amirs relationship. Is it because he doesn't want her to get hurt or he does not like Amir?

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  67. Drew:
    Baba doesn't care about religion so that wouldn't be a deciding factor. I think it's primarily the pride that he has for himself.

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  68. Alex-
    I think the doctor refers to the cancer as "a cop showing mug shots of the killer to the victim's family" because he thinks if they go through the treatment then they would save his life and it wouldn't make the family sad.

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  69. Matt,
    Baba went home with Amir and called the General from their house.

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  70. Drew-

    I truthfully don't think religion is a part why Baba will not take any medication because in the chapter it really doesn't talk about how religion plays a role in his health

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  71. well the rastafarian religion does not believe in medicine so that is why Bob Marley died of cancer because he refused to take medicine so thats why i kind of think Baba is not taking medicine because of religion.

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  72. Matt J.
    Baba was able to leave because Amir had taken Baba home when Baba refused the medicine and chemo.

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  73. -brad
    I agree I think Baba doesn't exactly know all the things he is leaving behind.

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  74. Ariel,
    I think he is just protective of his daughter. Like all fathers, he is skeptical of their relationship. Also, Amir wants to make a career of writing and that would not supply enough money to support his daughter.

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  75. Ariel-
    That's a really good question! But no, I don't think the guilt will every go away for Amir unless he deals with what he did to Hassan.

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  76. Ariel,
    I think that the General doesn't like their relationship because she ran away in the past to be with another man, so maybe thats why he doesn't want his daughter talking to Amir.

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  77. Brendan
    He wont take the treatment because he is to prideful. And he thinks he knows what is best.

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  78. Does Baba not want to take the medicine because he thinks that he doesn't deserve it or does he not want to have to put Amir through the trouble of having to take care of his father?

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  79. Connor- I agree I think we don't always realize what other people's cultures are like and therefore we don't understand why. We might think it was a bad decision but to them it isn't.

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  80. Brendan,

    Baba wont take the treatment to get better because he is a very proud and very happy person. He finds a good in most everyone and everything. Also i think hes kind of ready to move on die.

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  81. Matt-
    Baba was released from the hospital and had gone home before Amir asked him to talk to the General about him marrying his daughter.

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  82. Do you think that BAba is selfish for not taking the treatment?

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  83. I think Baba not taking chemo is selfish. He is forcing his son to just watch him die and no father should make their child do that.

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  84. does baba even care he would leave amir with out the medicine?

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  85. Matt J

    I think yes that Baba doesn't want to be a hassle for Amir but at the same time I don't think he wants to go through the pain of cancer and deal with it all

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  86. If Amir and Baba were closer through Amir's childhood would Baba want to live and be there Amir, or would he still refuse to take medicine?

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  87. Does Baba maybe reject chemo because he wants to test his son and see if his son has learned what Baba had taught him, in the way of living life?

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  88. Do you think it is good that Amir is marrying Soraya because of her past life? How much does her past life really bother him because he did tell her it bothered him a little and he may just not be showing how actually feels about it? Will her past effect their marriage?

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  89. sarah- I think he is somewhat selfish because I dont think he is thinking of Amir, he is just thinking about himself and what he wants to do.

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  90. Matt-
    I don't think that either of those reasons are the reasons that Baba won't do chemo. I think he realizes that the cancer is terminal and even if he did use chemo he would still die. Baba doesn't want to take chemo because he had to much pride and does not want to depend on others. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer Baba still continued to live his life like nothing had changed.

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  91. Molly, thats a really good question. It depends on whether he felt that Amir was ready to live on his own but I think that he would want to stay around longer to make his son happy.

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  92. Ariel-
    In chapter 12 I think the General doesn't aprove of Amir at first because like you said he doesn't want her to get into trouble and that I think that in their culture it is a tradition type thing for the man to talk to the father before starting the relationship.

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  93. Jamie,
    Thats a good question! I wasn't looking at the situation like that but that might be a possible reason for him refusing to take medication.

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  94. Sarah

    I don't think that Baba is being selfish for not taking the treatment because he is doing this because he doesn't want Amir to struggle to take care of him and also I think Baba doesn't want his son to see him sick and go through the pain of that.

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  95. Is the reason Amir wants to marry because his father is dieing? Does he want his father to be a part of his wedding? But it also seems kinda like another thing that Baba will be missing if he dies he will not get the chance to meet Amir's children once Amir has children.

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