Talk:Amon/@comment-71.234.208.124-20120605200803

"Yes, he actually HAS said that his goal is to get rid of beinding everywhere, and permanently. That is (one of ) his ultimate goal(s): "The era of bending is over." He didn't put any qualifier on that. He wants to get rid of benders AS benders forever. The creators have confirmed that, pretty much.

Moreover, when he says he "only" threatens those who "get in his way" that's just to KEEP them from getting in his way. He wants to instill fear in people that they could be next, but hope that he'll spare them if they stand aside. It's a classic tactic of totalitarian regimes and bullies worldwide: keep people thinking about their own immediate safety, and keep their eyes of the larger implications of your actions: keep them afraid and keep them out of your way. He knows he doesn't have enough power now to resist a mass united front of benders. In fact, he pretty much told Korra that.

He's not being lenient, he's just being smart"

My response:

Saying the era of bending is over does not mean that bending will be taken away from everyone. It could just as easily mean that the era in which benders are dominant over non-benders is over. I am inclined to believe the latter, but then I am always more inclined to look for the potential good in people vs the bad.

Also, places such tactics and strategies is a bit much for a show intended for children. Like all the wild theories that the Last Airbender inspired, the Legend of Korra is no different. In the end everything proved to be pretty straight forward and predictable, including Zuko finally becoming Aang's firebending teacher.

While it is possible that Amon is just a villain bent on revenge, with no nobility to his credit, I would like to believe otherwise. I prefer to believe in redemption, and thus far Amon has shown that he is capable of redemption as his reasons for sparing benders not known for abusing their powers are still unknown. Whether it is out of nobility or strategy remains unknown as we are not that far into the show yet.

Besides, it would be foolish to believe that just because he can remove a person's bending he can also eradicate bending from the world entirely. Non-benders can produce benders. Benders will never stop being born. It is a simple fact. Amon and the Avatar are, thus far, the only ones capable of removing a person's bending and Amon is just one man, he will not be alive forever. As for the Avatar, I sincerely doubt any Avatar would use their power to wipe all bending from the face of the wold.

Therefore, Amon believing he could wipe out all bending forever would be a rather foolish goal and Amon does not strike me as being a fool. A much more logical goal would be to topple the benders' established rule and place non-benders on more equal footing. Something he's very clearly made known is his goal.

A'Len