In the 20 years since Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted on Nickelodeon, a common question that’s shared among the fan base is which of the four elements — water, earth, fire, air — would one want to bend. Whether it be based on the element of one’s astrological sign or the connection they feel for a character who bends said element, it makes for a fun conversation topic.

In sitting with the realization that it’s been two decades since this show aired its first episodes, as well as seeing all that’s been unfolding around us in recent time, I’ve been thinking about the question more deeply; not so much in how I would identify, but rather in how the United States should consider itself. Going beyond just being able to bend a certain element, what nation in the world of Avatar is the country the most like? From fans since the beginning, to those who hopped on the resurgence in 2020, it should be no surprise that the nation the U.S. best emulates is the Fire Nation.

For the uninitiated, the Fire Nation is responsible for the Hundred Year War. Ignited by Fire Lord Sozin, it initially started off as a way for him to spread the nation’s influence and create an empire.

In the century following, as Katara says in the opening monologue for each episode, “Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.” They established Fire Nation colonies all over the Earth Kingdom. They have hurt — if not killed — people who they deem a threat; so much to where by the series premiere, Katara is the only waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe. They committed genocide against the Air Nomads, rendering Aang with the unfortunate distinction of being the last airbender.

As for within the Fire Nation, they uphold their corruption by brainwashing its own children with falsehoods about its history and proclamations that they’re the greatest civilization in the world. In fact, the Fire Nation goes so far as to where even the act of firebending is far removed from its original source; becoming symbolic of rage and power as opposed to life and energy, as otherwise taught by the indigenous Sun Warriors.

Sound familiar?

It’s not just that the U.S. is geographically in a similar position on our map as the Fire Nation is in the world of Avatar. It’s also the very real parallels that have unfolded throughout history and in the present day. Think of all the territories and military bases we have all over the world. Consider all those who are deemed a threat, whether it be for their immigration status or how they identify. And don’t even get me started with how the U.S. is complicit in genocide. Remember what’s been happening in Gaza the past 16 months?

It often takes until adulthood for so many of us to realize this, if at all. We otherwise were raised with saying the Pledge of Allegiance in school, taught false retellings of our country’s establishment, and some histories are not discussed period.

Now that’s not to say that every nation that’s not Fire Nation is the picture of perfection (the Earth Kingdom alone could warrant its own piece), nor does it mean that every single person who can bend flames is loyal to Fire Lord Ozai.

It’s characters like Zuko and Iroh who make for such examples of those from the Fire Nation, who break from its imperialistic grip and bring about a worldview that’s so very much needed. In learning from his mistakes in the past, Iroh teaches Zuko on how important it is to draw wisdom from many different places; so much to where he developed his lightning redirection technique by studying the waterbenders. In the case of Zuko in particular, audiences get to follow along with him coming to take on that perspective throughout the series, and even goes far as to where he learns from the Sun Warriors on the original form of firebending. As the tribe’s chief says, “Fire is life, not just destruction.”

Now those who go beyond just watching the original TV show will know how layered of an effort it is to redirect — much like lightning — the Fire Nation in a new way by the time the war is over and Zuko takes the throne. You might even say it’s bitter work (see what I did there?) that he has to deal with as its new ruler; even to the point where another war nearly breaks out. But in the long run, Zuko’s effort pays off, and by the time we arrive to The Legend of Korra and the Earth Kingdom is threatening a similar takeover, it’s Zuko’s daughter, Fire Lord Izumi, who makes it clear that the Fire Nation Army will only be used for protecting Republic City and not be dragged into another nonsense war.

In point, the work to move beyond our country’s imperialistic ways and become something better and deeper is possible, but it will take time and a lot of work, from young and old, politicians and otherwise. Consider the parallels the U.S. has to the Fire Nation, and see how this 20-year-old animated series about a group of teenagers saving the world might be a guiding compass for the approach we should take in ours.