52 “We’re hungry but we’re not savages He is a guest What was I supposed
to do?” he said in a strained voice. “ – to find something tomorrow.” She sounded near tears.
“What do I feed – Hosseini, 223 “ Assef is polite. He can produce a quiet good utterance that successfully
wins Baba’s heart at Amir’s birthday party Hosseini, 89. It is because of the influence of Pakthunwali, which requires Pasthuns to be polite.
c. Hatred toward Hazaras
Pasthuns consider themselves as the best ethnic group, the real Afghans. Most Pasthuns underestimate Hazaras. It is because they cannot accept Hazaras as
Afghans. Pasthuns restrict themselves to people or ethnic groups who are considered as weak, one of the examples is Hazara.
Besides, Pasthun people also control other ethnic groups. Hazaras become the subject of discrimination. There are some jobs which are called as Hazaras’
jobs. Those are low-prestige-jobs, such as servants. This is seen in the conversation between Farid and Amir. At first, Farid was suspicious and cynical
to Amir. He thought that Amir’s purpose on going back to Afghanistan was only to sell his land and then going back to USA with the money. When Amir asks
Farid why he has that kind of accusation, Farid sneers, “You want to know? Let me imagine, Agha sahib. You probably lived in a
big two- or three-story house with a nice backyard that your gardener filled with flowers and fruit trees. All gated, of course. Your father drove
an American car. You had servants, probably Hazaras… Hosseini, 215” The pride Pasthuns is also seen when Amir, accompanied by Farid, is in
the way to Kabul in order to find Sohrab. Amir and Farid take rest at Wahid, Farid’s older brother. Wahid asks Amir what is his purpose of going back to
53 Kabul. Amir explains that he goes back to Kabul in order to find a boy. Then,
Amir hands a picture of Hassan and Sohrab to Wahid. Wahid looks the picture carefully.
“This boy?” I nodded.
“This Hazara boy?” “Yes”
“What does he mean to you?” “His father meant a lot to me. He is the man in the photo. He’s dead now
Hosseini, 219.” Amir tells Wahid that the father is his half-brother, his illegitimate half
brother. Amir says that he will take the boy to Peshawar to be taken care. Having listening to Amir’s explanation, Wahid touches Amir’s shoulder and says “You
are an honorable man, Amir agha. A true Afghan Hosseini, 219.” Therefore, it can be inferred that there is a kind believe concerning about moral code of
Afghans. From Wahid’s second question, which is intended to make sure the boy
Amir tries to find, it can also be inferred that Hazaras are often seen as different people. They are not seen as Afghans.
There is discrimination towards Hazaras done by Pasthuns. Many Pasthuns regard themselves as people with higher status than Hazaras. It would be a wonder
for them to find out that there is a Pasthun who cares to Hazaras. It is illustrated when Amir looks for Hassan after they have won the kite fighting. Amir meets an
old merchant loading his mule with crates of pine seeds and raisins. When Amir asks the man whether he sees Hassan or not, the man’ reaction is shown below:
He eyed me up and down. “What is a boy like you doing here at this time of the day looking for a Hazara?” His glance lingered admiringly on my
54 leather coat and jeans–cowboy pants, we used to call them. In Afghanistan,
owning anything American, especially if it wasn’t secondhand, was a sign of wealth.
“I need to find him, Agha.” “What is he to you?” he said. I didn’t see the point of his question, but I
reminded myself that impatience wasn’t going to make him tell me any faster.
“He’s our servant’s son,” I said. The old man raised a pepper gray eyebrow. “He is? Lucky Hazara, having
such a concerned master. His father should get on his knees, sweep the dust at your feet with his eyelashes Hosseini, 66.”
This kind of situation leads and shapes Assef’ point of view. He turns into a man who really dislike Hazaras. It cannot be denied that Asef is very obsesed
with Hitler—it will be explained later—though his society’s way of thinking also affects his idea of hating Hazaras.
d. Idol Hitler
