Kite Runner (40-60)

The entire notion of the kite competition in Afghanistan seems incredibly symbolic to me as I continue to read this story. A kite, flying in air but held down unable to be entirely free, reminds me of the Afghani society. Much like Ali said, the nation of Afghanistan is a nation that abides by its entirely own set of rules and regulations. Despite futile attempts by other countries like Russia and the Britain to control it, Afghanistan always seems to prevail as an independent nation unwilling to take orders from anybody. The annual kite competition taking place every winter in Afghanistan represents this strong-headed nation as the competition seems to have virtually no laws at all. All of the contestants appear to be working for themselves, and themselves only. They are united by the competition, but are divided by the qualities of their kites and their abilities to run the kites. This is much like the nation of Afghanistan in that each sector seems to be proud to be living in Afghanistan, but are completely and entirely different in their viewpoints on what religion to abide by and what other people have the right to live in Afghanistan. Kites are essentially a metaphor for the faltering Afghanistan portrayed in this nation under a severely divided citizenry.