Talk:Amon/@comment-5191442-20120618031750/@comment-69.248.4.12-20120618064323

I disagree--respectfully, of course. First, you bring up the disparity in the opportunities between benders and non-benders. We have seen in the original series that several non-benders can become just as powerful as their non-bender counterparts--in wealth, in power, in political positions. Master Piando, for example was a non-bender with high socioeconomic status and martial ability to rival Firebenders during Sozin's Comet. The Kyoshi Warriors, Jet, Mai and Tai Li, also exemplify dangerous and able non-benders. You might point out that these warriors trained hard; but any form of bending is also a meticulous and exacting martial art. In either case, bending or non-bending, one must work hard to be a strong fighter. This leads me to another point: Earth King Kuei had no evident earthbending ability, yet he still held the highest position of power in the Earth Kingdom. Hakoda, a non-bender, was chief of his tribe. And form the Korra's visions of Yakone, we also see that there were two non-benders on the Council of Republic City: Sokka was the Head Councilman, and the Air Nation representative was by necessity a non-bender.

Sure, a few benders, the criminals of Republic City, used their powers to oppress the non-benders. But why damn all the other benders? And are non-benders truly powerless? As easily as a bender could study his element, a non-bender can learn martial arts, or how to fight with conventional weapons--obviously, otherwise the Equalists would have fallen flat on their faces.

Second, I disagree with your evaluation of equality, particularly with equality in America. Our notion of equality isn't one of equal starting points or equal skills and abilities -- no, we care infinitely more about equal consideration under the law, or equal opportunity as per class mobility. We also know that it is wrong to interfere with the individual, to take away something that is rightfully and fundamentally his. This extends beyond bending and the world of Avatar, because taking away from someone, hampering their individuality or nature, is something we feel is wrong. Amon is meddlesome, and he hasn't the right.