Am I the only one confused by Rogers’ “We don’t trade lives” argument?
I mean by choosing to prioritise one life – Vision’s life – you are in fact trading away all Wakandan lives as you are committing them to war to save vision and, really, you are also risking every life in the known Universe.
Hell, the very concept of War is one of trading lives. Soldiers go to war to fight either for an ideology (i.e. “freedom) or to protect the lives of their fellow countrymen. Every time a soldier dies they are trading their lives for something or someone else.
I feel like the Russos tried so hard to sell us on this half baked romance between the witch and the android (a romance that no one gives a shit about) that they had to find the flimsiest of excuses to keep it going. Like, it is straight up OOC to me that Steven Grant Rogers, a WW2 veteran who literally chose to lay down his life to save others, would not understand/act on the concept of sacrifice for the greater good.
Steve’s characterisation in MCU is so inconsistent, the only
thing I know undoubtedly about him is that he really does love Peggy and Bucky. I genuinely
don’t know what he stands for or believes in (It’s not about whether I,
personally, would agree to his ideals, but rather… I don’t know what his ideals are!!!)
Everyone in Infinity War was being stupid by not destroying
the Infinity Stones. This includes Tony who had the right idea (“Why don’t we
chuck this one in the garbage disposal?”), but then backed down due to
Strange’s insistence. He should’ve destroyed it when he had the chance.
However, Steve’s “We don’t trade lives” argument really made me scratch my
head… because… umm… that’s literally not
what he was professing one movie ago?
In Avengers, when Tony finally takes the nuke to space,
everyone was willing to trade the live of one man to ensure the greater good.
This includes Tony (who was warned that it might be a one-way trip), Nick Fury
(whose smile fades as he learns that Tony went into the portal), and even the
rest of the avengers.
Even, Steve himself
asks Natasha to close the portal with Tony still inside it (and he did so,
rightfully).
So, most of Avengers team (Nat, Thor & Steve) assessed
the situation and was ready to sacrifice a teammate for the
greater good. Steve in Avengers is of the [rightful] belief that one should
be willing to sacrifice a teammate for ensuring that the more Chitauri won’t
come through the portal and wreak devastation and endanger civilian lives.
Even in Civil War, he continues this belief. When Wanda and
Steve have a conversation about the 12 Wakandans who died as a result of Wanda’s
accidental unleashing of power, Steve,
again, is of the belief that some human
lives are worth sacrificing for the greater good. [I disagree with him,
as these are civilians and innocent bystanders who were dead, and they never signed up for this. However, I can
respect his opinions.]
The full conversation goes like this:
Steve: People died. That’s on me.
Wanda: That’s on both of us.
Steve: This job… (sighs). We try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes, it doesn’t mean
everybody. If we can’t find a way to live that, next time… maybe nobody gets
saved.
Again, this is Steve reiterating
his belief that sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. Notice that it is
not about self-sacrifice he is talking here. He is essentially saying
that sometimes even innocent people will be casualties of war, and as avengers they
should learn to live with it. If Civil War wasn’t about Bucky, but
rather about Steve’s ideals, then he believes so much in this “casualties are
inevitable for greater good” ideal that he is willing to go against his government,
his teammates, and split Avengers team, and become a traitor over this belief.
Okay, so
Avengers!Steve is ready to sacrifice a teammate for greater good.
CivilWar!Steve believes casualties are inevitable and something they need to
live with, for greater good.
So, why the hell would Steve not advise to destroy the Mind
Stone and sacrifice Vision in Infinity War? I
have no clue. He just gave a random catchphrase “We don’t trade lives” which
is neither aligned with his values nor his actions in the past movie. Also, why doesn’t the rest of the Avengers
protest this? All of them knew sometimes one had to give up a teammate to protect
humanity from an alien army. (They literally made this decision in Avengers1!!)
I don’t know why they were so insistent on saving Vision.
And the refusal to sacrifice Vision was trading lives… lives of Wakandans who had to fight an alien
army in order to extend Vision’s chances of survival, lives of his teammates,
and ultimately half of entire humanity.
I genuinely don’t know how anyone cannot see that we-don’t-trade-lives!Steve is just highly inconsistent characterisation.
What does he believe in? Sacrifices for greater good?
Sometimes casualties are inevitable, we just have to deal with it? Or we don’t trade
lives? I don’t know.
But whatever it is, I think it is absurd to think that this ^^
Steve wouldn’t trade the live of a teammate for half the universe. He has always known the need for sacrifice.
Smile It Won't Suck Forever 