Hassan's Letter

Dearest Hassan,

I am writing to you because I am sorry. I know it has been twenty years since our friendship, our bond, has deteriorated but I feel as if you deserve an apology. You did not deserve the horrible things that I did to you. I should have stopped what happened in that dark alley on the night of the kite flying competition. I should have saved you from the excruciating pain that Assef caused. I should have owned up to putting the watch and money under your bed. Believe me Hassan, I wish I could go back in time to fix my mistakes, and I don't expect you to forgive me, but you need to know that I am truly apologetic. I hope that some day we could again be the brothers that we once were. I wish to know how you are doing, if you're married, if you have children, where you live. I want to make up for all of the years that we lost. I love you Hassan. You will forever be in my heart.

Your old friend,
Amir

The Power of One Chapter 13

Chapter thirteen, along with the entire novel, demonstrated racism. Page 264 and 265 specifically show discrimination against Geel Piet. Lieutenant Smit expressed to Peekay and Doc that Geel Piet isn't worthy of their presence: "At my piano lesson on Monday, Doc found an excuse for Geel Piet to come into the hall..." (pg 264). Because Geel is black, he needed special permission to go places. He was despised by all races and is a prime example of South African racial problems. People called him names and wouldn't even look him in the eye while talking to him. When Smit talked to and about Geel Piet he referred to him as a "yellow kaffir": "Geel Piet, you just a yellow kaffir, but I got to hand it to you, you a good coach." Even when being complimented, he was called names. This racial problem was carried out all throughout South Africa.

Peekay is not like most men in South Africa. He doesn't seem to view race. When Peekay sees a person, the doesn't see their race. He tries to see their personality. Everyone else in South Africa seems to have racial views. It would be hard to be Peekay, a young boy growing up in a racist world, to have non-racist views. Somehow Peekay does it anyway. I think one of the reasons that Peekay doesn't view race is because he was once beaten up for his background. I think that when the Judge beat up Peekay in boarding school, it changed his view on society. Peekay was not abused for his race, but his ethnicity. The German kids at boarding school abused him for being English. I think this is what changed Peekay's outlook on racism.

The majority of the racist people are not the victims of racism. Almost every white South African was racist and almost every white South African had never been a victim of racism. The point is that, it is easy to be a racist when there are no personal consequences. When the people around you are racist, it is not easy to grow up any different. It would be extremely hard to grow up in South Africa, a country with extreme racial problems, as a non-racist. Especially during World War II. I think that the chances that a person in the mid 1900's grows up with equal views is slim to none. 

This picture demonstrates race equality. No matter what color a persons skin is on the outside, they can get along and be friends.