Avatar the Last Airbender: Zutara and Azulaang should have happened

>>>>>>>>>>CONTENTION 1: Should Aang have had a love interest| 1)CON concedes to this contention and even furthers it by insisting that Aang should follow precedent and be married. 2) Having no one left in his nation to fall in love with and marry is irrelevant as we've seen that people are well capable of falling in love with people outside of their own nation during the course of Avatar. 3) CON says it would be better for Aang to marry a water bender since the Avatar cylcle would have the next Avatar become a water bender. However, I'd like to point out that Avatars are merely reincarnate; Avatars are not produced on the basis of bloodline. After all, Roku is not related to Aang by blood in any way and most certainly didn't marry an airbender. 4) Whether or not marriage between people of different nations rarely occurs is of no consequence. The fact of the matter is that there is nothing wrong with it and that such course of action would help in unifying nations together, hence promotion of world peace (which is the Avatar's job). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RE: CONTENTION 1: Azula is not capable of having any positive relationships| 1) My opponents points out that a relationship between Azula and Aang would almost never work on the basis that she has tried to kill him multiple times and has even succeeded once. a) My opponent himself has conceded that Zutara should have happened. Through following the very link my opponent provides and through quick read on both Katara and Zuko, you will note that both have tried to kill the other in the past (heck, with Katara even threatening to do it during the Western Air Temple episode). b) I am well aware of the battles the two characters have had, but a relationship developing in spite of that would make the union all the more better from a writers perspective. Indeed, this is about Aang showing forgiveness and uniting all the nations. Forgiving and even saving someone such as Azula would be an excellent means of showing serious development in duty and character. 2) CON claims that since Roku is the maternal grandfather of Azula and Zuko and that since he is Aang's previous incarnation, Aang and Azula being together would be "spiritual incest." Whereas it would be understandable if my opponent were referring to physical incest, I'm afraid that spiritual incest doesn't even exist. At very least, I offer him the opportunity to prove that there is anything wrong with this idea. 3) He says Azula could revert back to her evil like Zuko did for a time. If I recall correctly, this helped Zuko develop as a character, choose his own path per se and even make him better able to get along with Aang and the rest. Thus, it's doubtful that such an outcome would do anything BUT improve her character and their relationship. 4) CON cites precedent by pointing out all of Azula's prior relationship and insisting that they have all been failures. In fiction, having prior relationships that all have resulted in failures is quite common in good stories as it gives the author the opportunity to do precisely as I've insisted and use such a character to make a point as well as to develop the protagonist. Take the series titled as Naruto for instance: The former antagonist known as Gaara had just as many (if not, then more) failed relationships as Azula. This mostly centered around his upbringing which consisted of him being treated like a monster as well as being encouraged to employ himself in the cruel ways of the ninja world. As one might be able to guess, this character eventually clashed with the protagonist (Naruto) and got to see his views of the world challenged first hand (ironically, he had the same problem as Azula; he saw trust/comfort towards others as a weakness). It was through this that Gaara was able to develop, strengthen one of the series themes in the process and even become a protagonist. Naturally, the point I'm making is that a failed past should by no means be taken as indication of a failed future when dealing with fiction. A good author can use this aspect of a character as a means of making a point and developing the protagonists. 5) CON insist that Azula isn't even capable of maintaining a platonic friendship This is false and completely contrary to the actual source material. Even on this wikia page, it points to both Ty Lee and Mai as being ones whom azula managed to confide in (heck, with Azula even going as far to apologize to Ty Lee upon realizing that she had upset her on an occasion). Furthermore, what my opponent also doesn't point out was that their friendship ended because both betrayed Azula. Mai because she loved Suko and Ty Lee because she favored Mai moreso than Azula.The point here is that Azula tried, but unfortunately had her suspicions (about no one being trustworthy) reinforced. =========================== RE: Refutation 1: Why Azula would not work| =========================== 1) CON agrees with me on what two of the series' main themes were, but insist that some people are beyond redemption and forgiveness. To demonstrate this, he points out both the soldier who murdered Katara's mother and Ozai are exceptional of redemption or having been forgiven. In response: I'd agree that some people are beyond redemption and perhaps even forgiveness, but even if this is so, this does not bring us to the conclusion that Azula is beyond both forgiveness and redemption. For starters, unlike the examples (Ozai and Katara'a mother's murderer) CON provides, we were given ample time to know the cause of Azula's problem as well as what it would take to solve it; we effectively understand her character. If Azula were as shallow as a character as Ozai or the man who murdered Katara's mother, it would reasonable for her fate to be no different. However, unlike the other two, the writers had all they needed to begin the process of developing azula and would have most certainly benefited from it as I've already pointed out in the previous round. 2) Azula was just like Ozai I'm not sure where CON is getting the idea that her and Ozai were quite similar when we never saw the latter possess any form of mental instability due to trust problems. Merely having similar views on the battlefield (which, one will actually notice as being quite common amongst the earth and fire nation, if my opponent is referring to honorless methods) does not equate their personalities. Neither does Ozai being locked up in the fire nation prison and Azula being sent to a mental health ward. ======================== RE: Refutation 2: Why it would not work| ======================== 1) CON points out that my propose method of breaking down Azula's trustlessness barrier wouldn't work prior to her betrayal. I agree completely . . . which is why it would be a good idea for Aang and Azula's life changing encounter to occur beforehand (or better yet, to just remove the betrayal scene entirely given that it's likely Azula would have developed enough as a character not to be a part of it; if events played differently, she may possibly have joined Aang's group by that point). 2) CON claims that Azula would rather die than accept help from the enemy. I don't recall this as being a characteristic of fire nation people. Not to mention that I've already pointed out that Azula would think she was using aang (no different than she was using the dai lee during season 2). 3) CON claims that Azula has a one track mind. This is also false. She has proven herself to be a cunning strategist who is constantly taking the future into consideration (i.e. Going from trying to drill a hole in the walls of ba sing se to taking it over from within). 4) http://dr-logic.livejournal.com... You'll find that the last claim is addressed here. And tha'll do it for now.