[ID: Screenshot of a tumblr post reading “ oh my GOSH????? these Air Acolytes are straight up not going to respect Kya and Bumi because they’re not Airbenders?????”/ End ID]Â
Every time I see this I get sad, because LOK just did the Air Acolytes so dirty.Â
We’re not going to give any of them names (other than Pema)? We’re going to act like they’re part of the scenery and never have an actual conversation with any of them? We’re basically going to treat them like servants-- make them carry our heavy bags and not even let them eat at the table with the family? We’re going to more or less ignore them once the real legacy of the Air Nomads returns and we get all of these new airbenders? We’re going to act like none of them were living at the Northern Temple and not involve them in all the drama with Zaheer? We’re going to pretend Tenzin is the only person in the world with knowledge of Air Nomad culture who can teach it to the new benders, despite the fact that the Acolytes have been collecting and codifying this stuff for the past 70 years or so? We’re straight up going to act these guys weren’t also a huge part of Aang’s legacy?Â
We’re going to perpetuate the idea that people who give up their native culture/religion/way of life for a different one-- because they think it’s important, because they see the value in that kind of life, because they want to be a part of it-- are less valuable than those who were born into it/had no other choice?
