Forced Migration: The Kite Runner

The Causes of Forced Migration, Past and Current Instances of a Group Fleeing, and Similarities/Differences with the book Kite Runner
For centuries, many individuals have fled their own countries for good or bad reasons such as immigrants and emigrants leave to find better opportunities. However, for refugees, they do not have a “win-win” with their situations because if they stay, they get killed, if they leave, they get killed. Many people leave for a better future from their own struggling countries. They have struggled of finding ways to escape, and many do not survive during their long journey. Only a few from their travels survive. There were many previous instances of groups of people forced to flee their country. African Americans
back in the 1600s were forced to leave their country because of slave trade. Migration is one of the most controversial issues around the world because there are many stories told by refugees themselves about their hard life in their own home and their journey to a safer place. Two stories will be compared with similarities and differences to the book “The Kite Runner”, written by Khaled Hosseini. In the book, the author speaks the truth about the life of person in a conflicted country and why it is best for a man to leave his homeland. Based on this book and the past and current instances of forced migration, many other foreign countries should take as many refugees as they can, especially kids, elderlies, and women, because these refugees still want to believe that there good on this Earth.
The Causes of Forced Migration
What are the causes of forced migration?
Forced Migration Online says that it describes a general term that refers to the movements of refugees and internally displaced people as well as people leaving because of natural or man-made disasters, chemical or nuclear disasters, starvation, and government projects. What does the word ‘refugee’ mean? According to dictionary.com, it is a person who flees for safety, especially to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc. Many who are labeled as “refugees” believe that emigrating from their own country is the best option for them and their families. They leave their childhood, great memories, best friends, loved ones, and past lives just because they do not want to take the chance of dying unexpectedly. A country that a refugee used to love once has turned into a nightmare he or she never wanted. For many, moving to a safer country is harder than staying in their troubled country. They experience horrible events that did and will occur to them. Numerous of refugees have experienced several types of obstacles when it comes to immigrating to a different country. Many have faced horrific weather, borders, police encounter, and a “dead zone” area. They have confronted life and death situations just to get out of their country. As stated in the article “Root Causes of Migration”, there are many reasons why people chose to leave including poverty, armed conflict, social strife, political turmoil, and economic
hardships (2016).
Past Instance of a Group Fleeing (African American slaves)
According to the article “History of Slaves”, slave trading has been occurring since the beginning of mankind (2001). “There were pirates who sell their captives for money, impoverished families sell their own children to work for somebody for money, use a “free” man as a guinea for an experiment, and use slaves as laborers” (“History of Slaves”, 2001). In the modern days, however, everyone knows the history of the life as a black man in the United States. African Americans were exported as slaves back in the 1600s when the first slave trade began in America. Slavery is a prime example of a forced migration. These people had no choice but to be exported to a new country that needed workers and servants. Even their long journey have tortured many male African Americans to survive because of sea sickness, spread of disease, famine, and being in an unsanitary area. And as soon as they landed in America, their punishments and hard labors from their owners were extremely inhumane. Many tried to escape, but it was a life and death situation that took a lot of hope and confidence to even try. Africans Americans were treated horribly because of their skin tone. If his color is not white, then he will be looked at and treated differently . And still to this day, discrimination is still an issue that America faces everyday.
Ahmed from Syria’s Story and Compare/Contrast with Kite Runner In today’s world, many people have fled their own country for a brighter future, especially those who are trapped in war torn countries.
However, their long travels to a safer place have either given them hope of survival or fear of dying. One man tells all about his own experience of hope and fear. Ahmed, who is from Syria, “survived the disaster but can’t find a reason for his life anymore”. He lost eight members of his family, when their boat sank after it left for Libya (“Ahmed’s Story, Syria,” 2013). From the tragedy he faced, the 67-year-old man remembered that horrible event with a lost of hope of living anymore. Ahmed recollects that “ ‘Agents’ helped them reach to Libya, and from there, according to the deal, Tunisian smugglers should have transported them to Malta. But they got into the hands of a gang of Somalis, Libyans and Tunisians instead” (“Ahmed’s Story, Syria,” 2013). Ahmed’’s story is similar to the situation faced by Amir and Baba, in the novel The Kite Runner, when they were stopped by soldiers . The father and son leave Kabul, Afghanistan for Pakistan due to Russian occupation in their hometown. During their journey, the fuel truck, that they use as an escape truck, is stopped by “two soldiers, one Afghan, the other a grinning Russian” (Hosseini K., 2003, p.114). The truck is opened and one of the soldiers sees a young woman. The soldier “wanted a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck” (Hosseini K., 2003, p.115). Nonetheless, the difference
between the two stories is that Baba stands up to the soldier and the their plan to escape continues; but in Ahmed’s story, neither him nor anyone from his group tried to stand up against their kidnappers.
Adam from Ghana’s Story and Compare/Contrast with Kite Runner Adam Tagaoua, a 26-year-old man, tells all about how he took hope over fear. According to Adam, “[Cote d’Ivoire] wasn’t safe anymore. You couldn’t go out on the street and hang out with friend or do business . . . so [he] the decision to flee and ended up in Ghana” (“Adam’s Story, Ghana”, 2014). For him, he is only looking forward for a new and peaceful place to start a new beginning. After his arrival in Ghana, all he sees are opportunities. Adam “. . . lost many things including [his] home but [he hasn’t] lost [his] dream to go back to school to be what [he wants] to be” (“Adam’s Story, Ghana”, 2014). Adam’s story is similar to the situation with Amir’s. When Amir arrived in America, he too sees many opportunities. After Amir graduates from high school, he wants to major in English that includes creative writing. In addition, Amir tells his father that he’ll find a job (Hosseini K., 2003, p.134). Adam and Amir are alike because they are both passionate about what they want, even if they both had terrible past lives.
Many refugees do believe that there still is good on this Earth. However, with many also face great suffering, they lose a little bit of hope at a time. Migration have been happening since the beginning of time and there are reasons for leaving one’s place. Such emigration include slave trading, war conflict, government policies, hardships, and find a better future. From the past to today’s world, there are many stories told by many immigrants and refugees of the hardships they face in their own country. However, they also reminisce about their horrible journeys and such stories are compared and contrast to the book The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini. Unfortunate events have been the cause of many lives being taken away. The lives of refugees and immigrants do not have it easy, they come across numerous of dangers just to live a better future for them and their loved ones.