The Crossroads of Destiny
“I loved the idea and power of a journey from the clouds. It gave babies power: we choose to be born to our lives; we give ourselves to people who make the earth look more inviting than the sky” (Yang 56).
In modern American society, the general idea is that our families our chosen by fate and we have the ability to choose our friends. In some extreme circumstances, this would be the preferred way to think about it. However, the idea that we see our family in all of their flaws and still choose them speaks to me deeply. I am of the belief that babies are pure hearted and good, so if these pure beings decide to choose a family to spend the rest of their lives being blood related to, then surely there is good to be …show more content…
Aang, the last of the Air Nomads, has the power to bend all four elements at his will, but must learn to master them while on the run from the Fire Nation. Aang mirrors the Hmong people, both in his running from the Fire Nation and how he is the future for his people, similar to how Yang is. Both must adapt to a new environment and learn quickly for the sake of others, and both look up to an elderly figure greatly, making it all the more heartbreaking when said figure ends up passing away. In addition to this, the Air Nomads were often considered people of the skies as well, due to their ability to control wind and constant moving as nomads. Then there is the issue of war and Aang’s ability to bend the elements, which is a result of being the Avatar, a being who is reincarnated into a child whenever the previous Avatar dies, reflecting the idea of a baby seeing their fate and choosing it. One of the episodes of A:TLA that I feel best represent this similarity would be the Book 2 finale, The Crossroads of Destiny, in which one of the main characters, Zuko, who has been an antagonist up until this point, has a choice to make between good and evil. In the end, he makes the choice to go against Aang and his friends, choosing his family despite the bad blood between them. Despite how Aang and company have warmly treated Zuko, despite how his sister attempted to take him prisoner and kill him, he still chooses blood in an attempt to regain his honor. While the second part vastly differs, I still feel it really showcases the idea of choosing family, and Book 3 does a brilliant job of establishing the idea of destiny and fate as Zuko ventures out and finds his true destiny, but I digress. If we find ourselves at the crossroad of destiny and choose our lives, then it gives life a new meaning and provides hope for a better
“I loved the idea and power of a journey from the clouds. It gave babies power: we choose to be born to our lives; we give ourselves to people who make the earth look more inviting than the sky” (Yang 56).
In modern American society, the general idea is that our families our chosen by fate and we have the ability to choose our friends. In some extreme circumstances, this would be the preferred way to think about it. However, the idea that we see our family in all of their flaws and still choose them speaks to me deeply. I am of the belief that babies are pure hearted and good, so if these pure beings decide to choose a family to spend the rest of their lives being blood related to, then surely there is good to be …show more content…
Aang, the last of the Air Nomads, has the power to bend all four elements at his will, but must learn to master them while on the run from the Fire Nation. Aang mirrors the Hmong people, both in his running from the Fire Nation and how he is the future for his people, similar to how Yang is. Both must adapt to a new environment and learn quickly for the sake of others, and both look up to an elderly figure greatly, making it all the more heartbreaking when said figure ends up passing away. In addition to this, the Air Nomads were often considered people of the skies as well, due to their ability to control wind and constant moving as nomads. Then there is the issue of war and Aang’s ability to bend the elements, which is a result of being the Avatar, a being who is reincarnated into a child whenever the previous Avatar dies, reflecting the idea of a baby seeing their fate and choosing it. One of the episodes of A:TLA that I feel best represent this similarity would be the Book 2 finale, The Crossroads of Destiny, in which one of the main characters, Zuko, who has been an antagonist up until this point, has a choice to make between good and evil. In the end, he makes the choice to go against Aang and his friends, choosing his family despite the bad blood between them. Despite how Aang and company have warmly treated Zuko, despite how his sister attempted to take him prisoner and kill him, he still chooses blood in an attempt to regain his honor. While the second part vastly differs, I still feel it really showcases the idea of choosing family, and Book 3 does a brilliant job of establishing the idea of destiny and fate as Zuko ventures out and finds his true destiny, but I digress. If we find ourselves at the crossroad of destiny and choose our lives, then it gives life a new meaning and provides hope for a better