ladyloveandjustice:

Fullmetal Alchemist is so fascinating to me as a narrative because I think it handles the idea of taking responsibility for unforgiveable acts so well, better than any narrative I’ve seen.

People who commit these acts aren’t necessarily always pure evil. They can be very sympathetic even. But they cannot be excused.

Riza doesn’t make excuses, even though she could easily shift the blame. She knows she has agency in what she did. She doesn’t seek atonement or redemption, because she knows it’s not possible. Nor does she take refuge in guilt or self pity or give up on living, because that would not accomplish or help anything, and she doesn’t have the right to feel sorry for herself. Instead, she takes responsibility. She did these things. They cannot be forgiven or excused or atoned for.

The only thing she can do is move forward and use what she has left to make sure it doesn’t happen again. She must create a world where she can be properly judged for her crimes. She must face what she did, take responsibility, do all she can to help the world repair itself and accept whatever consequences come because of it. And that’s what true responsibility is. Knowing something can’t ever be fixed completely, that there can’t be true salvation, but making the repairs you can because it’s your duty to try to clean up your mess to the best of your ability. There’s no self satisfaction in it- just the honesty of trying to build a better future so history doesn’t repeat itself.