As an okinawan, id like to speak on some criticisms regarding zukka, ect: The Japanese conquered my people and almost successfully eradicated our culture and our language. As of now we are under U.S. military occupation, it’s a terrible burden on my island. I know firsthand+

what the effects of Japanese imperialism feels like. Even today we are denied the acknowledgment of our pain. We face racism and xenophobia. I KNO what it’s like, I am also well aware of the harmful colonizer x colonized trope, I am. But I genuinely cannot see zuko ships in this+

light. By the end of the show, everyone in the gaang are equals, in the avatar comics we see zuko regularly try to reverse the wrong doings of the firenation, by legend of korra we are made to believe that the world is equal & at peace because of Aang and Zukos legacy for unity.

Not to mention that zuko himself is also a victim of the firenation. I wish the discussion had been more focused on the harmful tropes that I see within this fandom towards indigenous people. The use of the phrases “watertribe peasant/exotic/savage” to describe brown characs ect.

it truly is bizzare to me that for a show so centered on indigenous cultures, I’ve seen so many anti-indigenous/racist jokes,art,fics. That is a problem and that is something we should all actively work against and callout.

I wanna make it apparent that I would never call someone who isn’t native anti native for respectfully liking zuko ships. I would also NEVER silence or diminish the voices of natives who find these ships to be uncomfortable.

I simply feel as though my input, as an okinawan, was needed in a discussion like this. I really am not trying to argue please don’t, harass me for this.