[ Action, Written ] .052

[markofthebrave]

[Filtered 100 percent AWAY from: Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Yue, Suki, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Shino, Naruto, Sasuke, Itachi, Trafalgar, Nami, Sanji, Luffy, Chopper, and anyone else she thinks might recognize her handwriting, despite the pains she's going to in order to disguise it, or show the journal to people she really doesn't want to see this - Raine and Temari and Iroh.

All replies will be written unless stated otherwise. The camera is obscured by a wrapped around piece of brown cloth.]

Do you think that there's such a thing as a power that is wrong, not because of how it's used, but just because of what it does?

[After staying holed up in her room with the door shut - quite an unusual break of habit for her - Katara decides to head into town. She wants to check out that night club that she'd heard about - she heard there would be music!

From there it's the usual errands, like the grocery store and the Item Shop. Dinner tonight will be Something Spicy, but she hasn't figured out what yet. Maybe it'll help get Sokka out of his funk.]

Comments

[eyesofstrength]

[Someone else here is covering the camera in the journal, though not because he would hide from you, Katara. But because he wants to be sure someone else doesn't have the ability to recognize his handwriting at this time.]

As others have stated, power itself is a tool that can be used to hurt or to protect. And it is also very possible for someone to have good reasons, but use methods that hurt many to accomplish their goals.

In the end, right or wrong is determined by others after we act.

[markofthebrave]

[Oh, someone responded anonymously? That's interesting. But she isn't exactly in a position to judge.

...determined by others. That's very interesting, and certainly not something she's thought of before.]

"Determined by others?" What do you mean by that?

[eyesofstrength]

[Only doing what you are doing. But he's got someone from his world who is likely to be curious of anything he says here and doesn't know how to filter well yet.]

In the end our actions are determined to be right or wrong by others who can or will judge them. Whether it be historians in the distant future, others who hear the tale, or those in authority who can punish for our actions.

[markofthebrave]

[Hmm. She thinks on that and... it doesn't ring true for her.]

Whether or not something's right or wrong doesn't change, even if what people think about it does, the initial act is still the same.

[eyesofstrength]

Does it? Then what about when someone kills another to protect themselves or others?

You may think that is a right action, but will those who care about the person who died feel the same?

[markofthebrave]

[She actually gives this serious thought.]

Some people would say that to kill someone is never a 'good' or a 'right' choice. But I think in that situation, even though it hurts someone else, the right thing to do is to do everything that you can to protect the people that you love. And even if two enemies are fighting each other with that goal in mind, that just makes it possible to respect the other person. They're both doing what's right. One person was just stronger than the other.

[eyesofstrength]

But that is why it is determined by others. Our actions, great or small will always affect other people. And what we do to protect another we care about may harm someone who has others they care about. But in the end, it is often the one who was stronger who is right even if both sides had a valid reason.

[markofthebrave]

But it's still up to the person who is doing the action to do what they think is right - even if they lose or if someone decides that they were wrong in the past, that person is still responsible for their choices.

[So even if in one hundred years everyone thinks bloodbending is perfectly fine... that doesn't change Katara's choices now. Just because people think something's right - does that mean it's right?]

[eyesofstrength]

If only the person who is doing the action can determine the rightness of their actions, then actions that are very wrong could be considered right because that person thinks it is.

Most others who responded seem to agree that taking a person's free will is wrong. There is a person in my world who can do this, and he thinks it is the right thing to do and the best way to accomplish his plans. Because he thinks it is right, does that make it right?

[markofthebrave]

No, I think that there has to be an outside standard of right and wrong. Any time another person tries to treat another person as something less than themselves, no matter what form that takes, it's wrong. I think that people have a responsibility to live in balance with themselves, one another, and the world. And that's what I'm uncertain about regarding an ability that takes away free will - it seems like it comes really close to breaking that balance.

[eyesofstrength]

It seems you are conflicted about what is more important- protecting those you care about or doing right with all your actions. And that may well be the reason for your original question.

How about a hypothetical situation to help with it. The person you most care about is in danger and you have to do something you know very much is wrong and would never do normally or this person would die. There is no other option to save this person's life. You either must commit an act you feel is evil or the person dies.

[Of course Leonhardt is keeping quiet that he was put in this exact situation, and he chose the loved one, and sometimes he wonders if it would have been better to choose to do right. Though he knows very well that had he chosen that route, both of them would likely not be alive today.]

[markofthebrave]

I'm not conflicted about that. I know what I'd do.

[I've done it before.]

What I'm conflicted about is the nature of these types of abilities themselves. And what it says about the people who'd use it.

[eyesofstrength]

If you are not conflicted then why do you say one thing, and then contradict it soon after? It shows a weak mind that is easily deceived. Pick how you feel and stick with it.

[And at that point, he's just going to close the journal and stop responding. This is just too much of a prime example of why he hates humanity as a whole.]

[markofthebrave]

[And unfortunately, since this is written and the audio is off, Katara won't pick up on the fact that he'd closed the book. And she'd hardly let such an accusation stand.]

I haven't contradicted myself. You aren't understanding what I'm saying. You asked me what I'd do, I said I knew what it was, and then I clarified what I was conflicted about. There isn't any contradiction there.