#Fire Imperialism

[zuko-always-lies]

Unpopular Opinion: Ursa's parenting negatively affected Zuko

One of the fascinating things about the ATLA fandom is that people are utterly uninterested in analyzing how Ursa's parenting really screwed up Zuko, even though it's pretty clear. I don't mean to attack Ursa here, because I think she had good intentions, but, although her parenting was far better than Ozai's, it contributed to Zuko's many poor decisions.

I've given a broader coverage to values Ursa extols to her children elsewhere. The general point you should take away from that is that Ursa was critical in instilling imperialist values in her children and in teaching them to respect/obey the Firelord.

However, that's not the point I will belabor here. I want to turn to something else. Let's take a look closely at the scene where Zuko tries to perform Azula's firebending routine in front of his grandfather and his father but falls flat on his face:

Ozai frowns at this news. Zuko starts off well, doing the same circular motions as Azula earlier. He manages to produce a small fire blast, which does not impress Fire Lord Azulon. When he tries to create another one, he falls. He gets back up, panting heavily, and tries again, only to fall harder. Ursa gets up worriedly and approaches Zuko to comfort him. Young Zuko: I failed. Ursa: No. I loved watching you. That's who you are, Zuko. Someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard.

The lesson that Zuko learns from Ursa here is that his gift is stubborn persistence and that he should never stop trying to meet the toxic expectations of the Fire Nation royal court and of his father(she also might have inadvertently encouraged the Zuko-Azula sibling rivalry).

How do we know this is what Zuko took away from this? These scenes are paired together at the end of "Zuko Alone," as Zuko struggles to defeat Gow:

In the flashback, Zuko is sleeping in his room at night when a hand gently touches his shoulder. He awakens drowsily to see his mother dressed in a cloak.

Young Zuko: … Mom? Ursa: Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you. She pulls the barely conscious Zuko into a hug. Ursa: Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are.

and this scene:

Gow: Who ... who are you? Zuko:My name is Zuko. Son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. Prince of the Fire Nation, and heir to the throne. Old man: Liar! I heard of you! You're not a prince, you're an outcast! His own father burned and disowned him!

Zuko took Ursa's advice to never give up and never forget who he was to heart, and as a result even though he's been burned, banished, and declared a traitor, even though he objectively has no real chance of getting his status and Ozai's favor back at this point, Zuko is still trying to do that and refuses to let go of his long-lost position in the Fire Nation as crown prince. The smart thing to do would be to give up and move on, but Zuko refuses to do that.

We can also turn to what Zuko says to Aang in "The Siege of the North, II":

Zuko: I finally have you, but I can't get you home because of this blizzard. [Stands up and looks outside the cave.] There's always something. Not that you would understand. You're like my sister. Everything always came easy to her. She's a firebending prodigy, and everyone adores her. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck, though. I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am.

All of this brings me back to my main point. Ozai might have been the one who burned and banished Zuko, who abused him and declared him a traitor, who demanded that Zuko capture the Avatar, but Ursa is the one who taught Zuko the persistence that made him chase after legends for three years, that made him take reckless risk after reckless risk, that made him continue chasing the Avatar even after Ozai was having him hunted as a traitor across the Earth Kingdom.

The biggest problem in Zuko's life is that he refuses to let go of his dream of regaining Ozai's favor, that he refuses to accept that Ozai doesn't love and move on and find something better to center his life around, and from what we see Ursa played a huge role in this, because she taught Zuko to never give up trying fulfilling the expectations of Ozai and the court, no matter how many times he failed. Ursa wasn't intending ill, but her parenting had a huge negative effect on Zuko's life.

[phoenix-king-ozai]

This is an interesting topic that I want to expand upon. I don’t think that Ozai was physically abusive to Ursa and Zuko (besides the Agni Kai which Ozai believes was justified given the societal norms of Elite Fire Nation Society) like how many in the fandom believe he is. Ozai isn’t some deadbeat drunkard abusive father that takes out his anger and fury on his wife and children due to his own personal struggles and feelings of inadequacy.

Rather that Ozai was emotionally abusive towards his wife and children not because his desire to treat them cruelly but as a result his coldblooded, ruthless, and vicious imperialistic personality, attitude, and beliefs that he inherited from his forefathers Fire Lords: Sozin & Azulon. Which Ozai desires to instill into Zuko and Azula as his heir and heiress to their ancestors legacy of Fire Imperialism.

Ozai is renowned in the Fire Nation and the World as the greatest firebender of his generation and Agni Kai duelist champion. Along with being the Second Son of Fire Lord Azulon. Ozai certainly has the infamous Second Son Syndrome like Daemon & Aemond from HOTD. Given that they are treated as spare heirs and pushed themselves more ruthlessly due to their lack of inheritance.

Just like how Daemon and Aemond view themselves as the rightful heirs of the Blood of the Dragon of House Targaryen. Ozai view himself as the rightful heir to Sozin and Azulon’s legacy of Fire Imperialism due to his personality of ruthlessness, brutality, and viciousness being in line with his forefathers original ideals being brainwashed and indoctrinated into him since his early childhood.

“We are the son and daughter of fire…the superior element!” - Admiral Zhao

This why Ozai views Iroh and Zuko as “unworthy” of the Flaming Burning Throne of their forefathers. They do not “deserve” their birthright inheritance due to not embodying Sozin and Azulon imperialistic beliefs and attitudes to a fanatical degree like Ozai and Azula do.

In regards to Ozai and Ursa’s relationship. I doubt that Ozai was the most affectionate, compassionate, caring, and loving husband in the same way that Iroh probably was with his own wife. However, Ozai did care for his wife and children but his imperialistic attitude and behavior is paramount rather than his wife and children’s own happiness and desires. Ozai is certainly more of a warlord than a family man.

Do you think that Ozai was abusive towards Ursa in the show?

I think to answer this question, one would have to contextualize abuse within the culture and time period of the Fire Nation. The short answer to this question is yes, because Ozai's levels of narcissism don't permit him to treat anyone else with propriety let alone care.

The long answer is that Ozai is the most powerful fire bender (at the time) in the world, and he's the Fire Lord's son. There's an element of perceived divinity to him that is evident in the way the audience, world, and his children view him. If one were to go into Ozai's mind, I doubt he would find fault in the burning of Zuko's face. Not even because he believes he can do what he wants, but because he believed it was better for Zuko that he teaches him a lesson in that way.

We don't really get the chance to see Ursa and Ozai interact in the show, but the way he talks about her on The Day of Black Sun speaks volumes. He explains her disappearance to Zuko matter-of-factly: Ursa commited treason, so she had to go.

In short, the family dynamics and hierarchies of the Fire Nation Royal Family are inherently abusive, so we don't need to know much about Ozai and Ursa's marriage to determine that it was toxic at the least.

[metamatar]

pointing out that capitalist welfare states are built on imperialist superprofits gets a lot of wank on here so just wanted to point to a new example. novo nordisk, denmark's (our favourite nordic model state) largest company (its market capitalisation exceeds the size of denmark's economy) is a pharmaceutical company that saw its fortunes rise after the decades long battle that enforced international IP law on India to prevent it from re-engineering drugs as generics. quite literally extraction of super profits via enforcement of fake monopolies.

[kropotkindersurprise]

October 2, 2024 - Palestine Action activists scaled the roof of a Teledyne factory in Bromborough, UK, which supplies F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, which Israel uses to slaughter innocent civillians in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, using USA supplied bombs. The activists broke into two clean rooms through the roof, causing havoc. [video]/[video]/[video]

According to a senior Teledyne manager, contamination of their clean rooms could stop production for up to 12 months. When our government fails to abide by their legal duty to end complicity in genocide, it's up to ordinary people to take action. This one is for Palestine and Lebanon. Resistance until victory!

Want to get involved? https://palestineaction.org/

[hinamie]

fire nation festival wear aka a blatant excuse for me to push atla clothing design conventions to the absolute Limit

jjk atla!au with @philosophiums

[winters-secret-star-wars-blog]

Omega: "Want to know a secret? I escaped from this mountain before. Know what else?"

[nemainofthewater]

If there was ever a character who you'd want to give you a hug, these ones are it.

You know the saying: some are born a big brother, some become a big brother, and some have big brother status thrust upon them.

Write-ins, propaganda, and images are welcome!

[sforzesco]

I got. thoughts. about valens and voices in imperial roman history. but I also got a lot of thoughts about uhhhhhh choosing your brother for co ruling the Fratricide Foundation Story Empire. many thoughts about themistius' oration too

Brotherly Love, Themistius (trans. Peter Heather & David Moncur)

⭐ places I’m at! bsky / pixiv / pillowfort /cohost / cara.app / insta

[wh40kartwork]

Spoils Of War

by Ricardo Alvarado

[phoenix-king-ozai]

@swan2swan @deadlyangelofpurity

Ozai doesn't truly hate Zuko but is mostly disappointed in Zuko’s behavior, personality and talent. 💯🔥⚡️☄️🌋

Ozai's cold harshness and brutal ruthlessness regarding Zuko have nothing to do with Ursa or Ikem's forbidden love! Cough Yang Cough 😒🙄 Ozai wants Zuko and Azula to both prove themselves! Ozai doesn't favor Zuko or Azula. It is about which child will succeed Sozin, Azulon, and his legacy as future Fire Lord. In fact, Ozai doesn't want Zuko or Azula to think that they are the “favorite” child. He wants Azula and Zuko to improve through competition. Because of the “only the greatest of pressures can forge and make diamonds” & “steel sharpen steel” mentality. Ozai has the mentality of an imperialist warlord. Ozai isn't trying to be the world's most loving and caring father but rather continue and build upon a powerful and dominant legacy that his forefathers had created before him. He wants Zuko & Azula to be cold, ruthless, heartless, vicious, and brutal imperialistic warmongers like him (Ozai), his father (Azulon), and his grandfather (Sozin).

Ozai's distaste and despisement of Zuko have NOTHING to do with Ursa and Ozai's arguments in ATLA Canon even in the Comics Ozai was simply saying that to hurt Ursa's feelings and gaslight her over bullshit letters. Fire Lord Ozai views Zuko as a disappointment of a son, firebender, and prince. His skills in Firebending are pathetic compared to his sister's and his morality from his mother and later uncle is out of line with Ozai and mainstream Fire Nation Elite Imperialists. If Zuko was a ruthless and cold-blooded killer like Azula and was at least just as good as his YOUNGER sister, then Ozai would NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM with Zuko as his son and heir! Zuko represents everything that Ozai was raised to hate and resent; compassion, morality, mercy, weakness, etc. Ozai resents his son for incompetence as a firebending warrior which is antithetical to Ozai as the strongest firebender in the series along with him being an Agni Kai champion along with the morality and softness that Ursa and later Iroh fostered in Zuko. The fact that Zuko doesn't conform to their society's warrior culture and morality bothers his father since Ozai was likely forced to conform since his own childhood under his father Azulon’s reign. Ozai probably resents that Zuko has his mother and uncle's affection whereas Ozai as a child probably didn't have his mother, Ilah's love to protect and care for him from Azulon's wrath due to her death in childbirth. Iroh got to experience his mother's love and presence along with his father's respect during his childhood, something that Ozai never had. Ozai resents his first-born Zuko and relates far more with his second-born daughter Azula who is neglected like him.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH it's so REFRESHING to have someone on the writing team who GETS Ozai and Zuko's relationship!!!

[zuko-always-lies]

Mai: Zuko, leave her alone. Zuko: (mocking) 'I'm so pretty, look at me. I can walk on my hands, whoo!' (Zuko does a hand stand. Cut to shot of Ty Lee looking sad. Cut back to Zuko who is upside down. He lets himself fall to the sand) Circus freak! (Cut to shot of Ty Lee beginning to cry and Azula sits in the background) Azula: (laughs) Ty Lee: Yes, I'm a circus freak. Go ahead and laugh all you want. (gestures toward Azula, who looks away) You wanna know why I joined the circus?

x

Ty Lee: It is so good to see you! Azula: (smiling) Please, don't let me interrupt your... (raises an eyebrow, searching for the right word and failing) whatever it is you were doing. (Ty Lee, still smiling, flips over backwards and ends up lying on her chest, with one of her feet arched over in front of her head, the other pointing straight up into the air. In the background, three circus people try unsuccessfully to coax a platypus bear dressed in red vest and wearing a fez to move.) Azula: Tell me, what is the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Certainly our parents didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls to end up in... (cut to a shot of the efforts with the platypus bear, Azula continues, with a slight note of contempt in her voice) places like this.

There is something interesting that occurred to me about Azula and Zuko’s disdain for Ty Lee’s involvement in the circus. In both Ancient Rome and Imperial China,* being a professional entertainer was generally considered to be a low-class and unclean activity, utterly unsuitable for anyone from a good family. I think the same is likely true for the Fire Nation. Circus performers might even be socially associated with prostitution and sex work.** All of this helps make it clearer why Ty Lee being involved with the circus is such a huge deal for Zuko and Azula.

*”Imperial China” obviously is a term which attempts to conveniently collapse thousands of years of history.

**I’m not saying Ty Lee engaged in prostitution. I’m saying that it’s likely that upper-class Fire Nation citizens would associate circus performers with prostitution.

[starlight-bread-blog]

The Good & the Bad: On Aang (Not) Killing the Fire Lord

I recived this asks forever ago, trurly sorry anon, but I'll keep my apologises for the end. I'd love to answer that!

If you're asking me, this is way better than """killing him""". Case closed.

Getting this cleared up: The show didn't say that Aang is morally superior for this. It was solely about staying true to himself. Not a moral high ground.

So when I hear people say it's problematic because it implies that sparing imperialistic dictators has some intrinsic goodness to it, (Ahem-Lily Orchard), I just can't agree. It was never about universal ethics, it was about Aang's culture and values.

Why Is This a Good Thing?

Aang loves his culture, and takes a lot of pride in it and its values. (See: in The Southern Raiders his first go-to to convince Katara to spare Yon Rah is his culture, rather than what such act would do Katara herself). He would have been ashamed if he had broken them. But right now they clash with his Avatar duties, with god-knows how many lives at stake. He needs to let go of his pride & shame, and become humble.

Just like Zuko humbling himself to the GAang before they accept him, or Sokka humbling himself to the Kyoshi warriors and Master Piandao, Aang could only speak to the the lion turtle after he'd given up, after he was humbled.

Even beyond Aang, it enhances the show's themes at large. A theme in A:TLA is paving your own path, and that you can do what you want despite the pressure. Your true destiny will come, you might be surprised by it, but it's yours and you're free to carve it.

You just have to keep going, to continue to do the right thing, and your destiny will find you. Things have a way of working out in the end, eventually.

Sparing Ozai serves the theme, thus the show overall. Everyone told him it's his destiny to kill the Fire Lord and end the war. But he didn't agree, paving his own path, his own destiny, and all was well. The pieces fell in their place.

It is s amplified by the fact that if you read between the lines, he actually did follow all the previous Avatars' wisdom besides Yangchen's.

Aang knew what he wanted from the start. He isn't going to kill the Fire Lord. People (rightfully) tried to pressure him, but in the end, he stuck to his decision.

Justice was served. Aang took his bending away and put him to rot in prison for the rest of his life. There's more than one way to execute justice.

"... and the destiny of the world". That's exactly what Aang did. He followed his own path (staying true to himself) while saving the world (ending Ozai regime).

So that leaves us with Yangchen's advice. The one he didn't follow:

This opens another layer to this. Why doesn't Aang take the advice of a fellow Air Nomad? The one he should relate to the most? Because despite both being Avatars and Airbenders, Aang is the last. They're not the same. Yangchen is speaking from a place of privilege. She can carry the weight of the Avatar and not worry about the Air Nomads. Notice the wording: "spiritual needs". But it's deeper than that. In her time, they were there, they'll preserve their culture and values. Aang doesn't have that.

He's Avatar: The Last Airbender. He has both weights to carry. The decision to spare the Fire Lord, while protecting the rest of the world, is embedded in the show's title.

There's also something so incredibly powerful in Ozai being defeated specifically with Air Nomad values. A 100 years ago, during Sozin's Comet, the Fire Nation started the war by genociding them. When it comes back, the Avatar, the last Air Nomad, ends the war and stops the next genocide while preserving their values. The Fire Nation isn't going to push him to taint (one of) the last living aspacts of the Air Nomads, and Aang is shouting it – in the very same day the disaster occurred.

(Additionally I view this as a land mark of his character development since Siege of the North. He used spirit powers for murder, now he's using them for mercy).

(A:TLA is also a show made with kids in mind. They may not be able to make Aang kill Ozai. He got his bending stolen and sentenced to prison for the rest of his life. That's a more than serviceable punishment for a show aimed at kids).

(Ps: If Ozai had died Zuko would never have found out where his mother is).

The concept is fantastic. Nothing wrong there. But now, it's time for the critisism.

What's the problem then?

Despite looking in internet forums, it's entirely possible that I missed some things. With that being said, the Lion Turtles could have been foreshadowed better. As I stated, I don't mind it. But as far as I recall, it was foreshadowed once in The Library, and that's it. (Edit: It's also foreshadowed in Sokka's Master and The Beach, but the point still stands).

The Lion Turtle is a twist, it subverted expectations, but that doesn't mean it has to be a deus ex machina. That's what foreshadowing is for. It's the literary device to making a plot twist feel believable. The result is many fans, including me, feeling as though it came out of no where, even though it didn't.

Overall, I love that Aang spared Ozai. It ties into the themes of the show and Aang's role as the last airbender. It makes perfect sense, it's rather beautiful. However, I do wish the foreshadowing was better.

And for Anon, to apologize for the wait, I dedicate you this meme:

[phoenix-king-ozai]

I'm pretty sure only the children truly believe that the Fire Nation "cares" about its enemies for the nation's educational propaganda. The Elite and Nobility could care less about Non-Fire Nation mainlanders outside of the Colonials to some degree. Sozin was being disingenuous about "helping" the other nations. Sozin wanted to exploit the other nations through Fire Nation's Military dominance. He even SLAUGHTERED the Air Nomads for his so-called "generous" Imperialism. Along with Azulon, hunting and capturing the Southern Water Tribe waterbender to near extinction. We also know that from Haru’s background that Earthbenders are kidnapped, imprisoned and enslaved to do coal mining work for the Fire Nation’s war machine!

Zuko stan: the Fire Nation hates Azula and Ozai and like Zuko

Canon, meanwhile:

"Daughter to Fire Lord Ozai, Azula is Zuko's 14-year-old younger sister. She's a lot like the typical "Little Miss Perfect" younger sister, only she's also a deadly Firebender. Azula has always been the favorite of the Fire Lord, and of everyone around her for that matter-  everyone but Zuko, that is. Azula excels at her royal role-  she is extremely gracious, smooth and put-together. An ideal Princess, she is also cold, calculating, and precise. Zuko will tell you that Azula is "lucky." Things just tend to turn out in her favor." [source]

"A giant statue of Firelord Ozai with his head tilted back and fire gushing from his hands and mouth like water would from a "normal" fountain. The piece is so famous and incredibly moving to any Fire Nation citizen that the town in which it stands officially changed its name from North Chung-Ling to Fire Fountain City." [sourse]

Zuko is the least popular in his family actually. He didn't work his ass off like Ozai to get recognition nor he excels at his royal role like Azula.

The only recognition he gets from his nation are from fangirls for exactly two reasons: 1) he's a prince 2) he looks hot, and from the time he helped Azula conquering BSS.

The Fire Nation is not the fandom.

[serpentface]

Interview Question for Etsushir:

What was the vibe like as a foot soldier during the suppression of the North Finn Rebellion? Did it feel doomed from the start or did it only fall apart once the Odomache was assaulted and killed?

[shu-of-the-wind]

The Founding Fathers wanted a democracy that, unlike the king of England, would derive its power from "the consent of the governed." But they also wanted an empire. And so they built both: a democracy that at its center gave every citizen a voice and a vote, and an empire that, as it constantly expanded, controlled the lives and lands of people who had no say. While over the centuries who was included in that center of democracy changed, the edge of empire never went away. From Indigenous nations, to Guam and Puerto Rico, to migrants detained at our border, there have always been people who lived under the raw power of our government but without the liberties and privileges of our Constitution. Our inheritance as American citizens is a democracy that is often wildly undemocratic--a government that rules both by consent and by conquest. ~Rebecca Nagle, By The Fire We Carry