Amir's Atonement

Throughout the novel Amir is facing his sins. A phone call with the words there is a way to be good again, made his mind go back into the world he was trying to forget. Amir grew up trying to be the center of his father's attention. He tried desperately to get his approval. He wanted it so bad, that Amir believed any means to get it, would be justified. Amir found a way to get his fathers approval from a kite tournament that he, and his best friend Hassan, would have no trouble winning. The night of the tournament was going well, Amir was finally going to get everything he has always wanted, when the terrible happened. Amir was faced with a decision that changed his life forever. His friend was raped, and he stood by and did nothing. He chose to believe it never happened. The event changed their friendship forever, as they became istant for each other. Hassan made a sacrifice to receive the last fallen kite,; and while it gave Amir the attention he always wanted, the cost was his friendship. Amir had chosen to keep that night a secret. But it destroyed him on the inside. He wished that he could have been the Hero his father was. When traveling to Pakistan, his father would have rather died than sat and did nothing, while others were being disgraced. Amir was afraid that night, and did not have the courage to stop it. He wishes to be forgiven from his betrayal. He wishes that Hassan would forgive him, that he did something to protect his friend. Though, as a child Amir wished Hassan would protect himself. He wished he would have been storng that night. Amir did so many terrible things to Hassan, that he had no choice but to leave. Amir wishes that he could be forgiven, receive atonement for the way he treated Hassan.

Atonement

It is possible for atonement, or amends, to be made dealing with past mistakes and sins. As a Christian, I have been forgiven of all of my sins, and past mistakes. I know, and God knows, that I will make many more mistakes in the future. The most important thing about committing a sin, or making a mistake, is forgiveness. It is important to realize the wrong doing, repent the sin, and forgive. Once forgiveness is issued, the persons involved can move on, learn, and ever repeat the past. I have made many mistakes in my life, and thank God that I am forgiven. It is from mistakes and sins that we learn, and can teach others. I believe that in The Kite Runner, Amir is seeking forgiveness for his mistake. He wishes that he could have been brave, and a hero to his best friend. Amir wishes forgiveness from his best friend. He wishes that there is a way to be good again. To relive all of the glory days he and Hassan spent together. Since he made his critical mistake, he has never been the same again.

Mistakes

I have made my fair share of mistakes throughout life; and as my parents say, i will make many more. I like to keep my mistakes close to my heart, so that i can learn from them always. i like to believe that my mistakes are between me and God, and once he forgives me, i can move on. The best things that come from mistakes are forgiveness and learning. I pray that i can always see when i make a mistake, and have the courage to change it. And if i can't change it, i pray that i can learn from it, so i can move forward, never repeating the past.

IND READ: Vanishing Acts

I have already started to read my independent reading book. I am about 50 pages into it, and so far like where the book is going. The book right now has a lot of mystery, that once we learn, will be two sided. The main character, Delia Hopkins, had a loving father growing up. However she always felt lost, and as if something were missing in her life. She had flashbacks of memories, that she tells herself never happened. She felt the need to search for missing people, because she felt lost herself. She never knew her mother, and just found out that her father never told her the truth about her childhood. As it turns out, Delia's loving father, kidnapped her from her mother soon after they divorced. Delia is now trying to figure out if she can ever forgive her father, and if she can really testify against him in court. Her father is in jail, and her husband is defending him. The reader has not yet figured out what the mother did to make the father kidnap her, however i have read Jodi Picolt before, and the reason is always a controversial one.

The Real Story

My story was both similar and different to the real one. I portrayed a single solider effected by a mission gone wrong. The real story was a group of solider effected by a group attack. The difference was the amount, the similarities include attacks, and retreats.

Running for home

It was quiet. With sounds of fire and explosion deep in the background; a solider waits for his target. Just breathe, he thinks. A group of people appear in the distance. He waits for the call. Silently, the clock tics, waiting for the precise moment to strike. Be aware, he thinks. It is the thought has not left his mind since he left home many months prior to this moment. He wants to think of home, but the thoughts will only jeopardize his concentration. When he looks up form the bushes, he sees that the target has moved closer to him. They appear to have stopped. What are they doing, he thinks to himself, don't move, he tells himself, don't give away your position. Suddenly a hot explosion of heat and debris fly out form behind him. Location compromised, he yells into the receiver, beginning retreat to safe house on foot. He runs for his life, as his memories drift back to his home, just keep running, bullets ring as they blaze by him. Don't slow down...just be aware, and keep moving, i am almost home.

Good vs. Evil

"When I despair I remember that all through history there have been tyrants & murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end they always fall. Think of it always."
- Mahatma Gandhi

Throughout time we have seen the epic battles of good vs evil. The will of people to live well, and not dwell in evil, has kept good the all-time winner. However, I agree with the quote Mr. Yost had on his blog. That all it takes for evil to win, is good people doing nothing. Because when evil tries to prevail, good has always come to fight against it. However if good is demolished ( or unwilling to fight), then evil has no opponents, and therefore can triumph.

The many decisions we face...

We face many decisions everyday. A decisions are like a choices, we make them in hope of getting the best possible outcome for ourselves and the world around us. Decisions can be big and/or small. It can be, "Should i get this done today, or can it wait until tomorrow?" Or it can be, "Where do I go to college?" I have made important decisions throughout this past year. I have decided to go to the University of South Alabama for college. A college, that although is far away from home, i believe will benefit me the most. i have made this decision, along with others to consider an ROTC program, so that i could go to college debt free. I have made these important decisions, along with other minor ones. However, big or small, our decisions effect everyone. By going to Alabama, I will meet different people than i would somewhere else. I will also see my family less, affecting myself, and my relationship with them. The small decisions, like 'when do i complete my paper' influence later times, and dates. For example, if i have time now but choose not to complete my assignment, what will i sacrifice later to get it done? I might have to cancel other plans. So decisions effect our lives, and the lives of others. When a choice, or decision is made, we are changing time, and future events. What people we might meet, or whose plans might be cancel. Either way decisions must be made thoughtfully. The ending result is what drives our decisions. Whether the end looks most profitable, and which ones we can be proud of in the end.

Recipe for Afghanistan

-Take a few dashes of silver, gold, copper, zinc, iron, coal, and other plentiful resources to help form a well-wanted land.
-Then take a few empires, kings, and conquers along with three wars.
-Add the first civil war with soviet invaders, followed by Taliban, and U.S. governments.
-Continue to add the next wars, then the third.
-After you add the third Anglo-Afghan war, you have achieved full independence from the United Kingdom over foreign affairs.
-Take a King named Amanullah, and move into the isolation stage.
-Let bake for about two years. Modernization will occur in forms of a constitution and co-educational schools.
-Let simmer between Asian and Middle Eastern countries, and enjoy.

Spring Break09

The past week was great. I took, and passed my placement exams. I dealt with financial aid, and loans. I purchased items for college. I finished the last things on my check list for the University of South Alabama Orientation. I watched most of the Philies games. For the first time ever, our family hosted an easter brunch. Despite the lack of space for ten people at our four person table, it went very well. There were also some drawbacks to the vacation, but all in all, I am looking forward to college and graduation.