Equalist Propaganda

((Answers about bending, bending’s impact on technology and how the world will cope without bending under the cut.))

((Warning: It’s long.))

Anonymous! Who has lied to you about the census data? Nonbenders outnumber benders enormously! Therefore, since we represent all non-benders, our numbers will always be superior.

Electricity does not belong to firebenders alone. Calling electricity “artificial firebending” is remarkably shortsighted. Before, the world believed only benders could harness the wind, the lightning, the sea, and the earth. Now, we know bending’s greatest blessings can be replicated by the common man. Technology has told us that we do not need bending. It made the hierarchy between benders and non-benders obsolete.

I ask you to consider what we have done over the last seventy years alone.

Look at our radios— our gramphones— our Satomobiles. These would have been unthinkable during the war. Now, they are commonplace.

You may say taking away bending will hurt benders in their chosen occupations. I say, on my family’s farm, we sowed seeds without ever bending a pebble. If we could do it, certainly a bender could. Let them suffer as we have! It will only make their accomplishments feel sweeter. If all else fails, they can always change their ocupation. Look at how many farmers have adjusted to city life— reeducation is very possible.

You say we will lose energy, but our weapons do not rely on bending to function. We produce our own power. Many common appliances do similar things. To power the city without lightning bending— child’s play! Once inventors no longer use lightningbenders as a crutch, this problem will be solved within a month.

There are ways to heal without using waterbenders. There was medicine in the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation even before waterbending healers left the Tribes. These “healser” are as replaceable as lightningbenders. We already know how to heal broken bones and sprains, chi manipulation solves imbalances and pains, and university researchers are handling all the rest. Professors and non-bending doctors have created revolutionary new medicines in the past few years— must our doctors know how to kill and maim to be effective? Waterbending medicine is not special. Human cunning can heal any illness.

The locks of the Northern Water Tribe, the chutes of Omashu— such things can be mechanized.

Progress is good, my friends. Bending was necessary to provide a comfortable life in the past, but we have outgrown that need. Science will create a world even more prosperous than the one bending has given us.

As I have said, we will soon reinvent the power plant. For now, we must make do with what we have. For now, we must use benders’ electricity to power our homes— it is a necessary compromise. Survival trumps ideology here.

Fear not— they cannot stop us by threatening our power supply. We do not need bending to power our weapons.

Bending removal does not hurt. Your “friends” will survive the process.

It will be a shock for them, at first, and they may be violent. However, they will soon recognize the favor I am doing them, and become one with us. The backlash against ex-benders will disappear the same way— it will simply dissolve once everyone accepts to the new status quo.

This would technically make everyone “equal,” but it would not improve life. Bending leads to violence. I will elaborate on this in the future. For now, know that it encourages violence and corrupts the spirit. I am hardly “jealous” of such a disgusting ability. If we remove bending, the world will become calm.

Benders will never be intimidated for long— remember, they would exterminate us if they had the chance. Purging the world of bending is our real goal, and you have no reason to doubt that.

The oppressed are incapable of dominating the oppressors— it does not work in reverse. And is becoming a nonbender such a horrible fate? Well, benders believe it is, so they must be forced into equality by any means necessary. This is the only way we— and they— can be saved.

I cannot reveal everything just yet. You will have to trust me— we can remove all bending, and no new benders will be born.

Here is a hint: Bending comes from the spirits, but if the spirits withdraw their support…. Well.

You have such a low opinion of the world. You reduce all of us to the level of benders— brutes who use the disease in their souls to hurt others. Once the soul is healed, the desire to harm others evaporate.

No, the Equalists will not become monks, but we will never become dictators. My power is not a weapon— it is a blessing. A world changed by those who bring the most good… that sounds like an honorable precedent to me.

You will see. Everyone will see. Once you experience our utopia, you will regret ever doubting us.