Q4 Outside Reading Week 6 Post A

"...a list that included exchanging dollars for Kaldar and Afghani bills, my garment and pakol--ironically, I'd never worn either when I'd actually lived in Afghanistan... and, finally, perhaps the most important item: an artificial beard, black and chest length"(230).

After being contacted by Rahim Kahn, Amir goes back to Afghanistan to retrieve Hassan's son from an orphanage after the Taliban killed his parents. In America, we are able to wear whatever we wish because of the First Amendment, as long as it doesn't fall into the category of the exceptions. Under Taliban-rule Afghanistan, certain dress restrictions are put in place, for both men and women. Women had to cover themselves up as much as possible when out in public and were not allowed to make eye contact or raise their voices. They were basically property to their fathers or husbands. Amir must put on a pakol, something he's never worn in his entire life, and an artificial beard because in America, men are free to shave or not shave as they like. In Afghanistan, they needed to have a certain length beard to be approved by the Taliban. This shows the restrictions in Taliban-rule Afghanistan that were guaranteed freedoms in America.