Why Didn't the Avengers Retire Like General Ross Said in 'Captain America: Civil War'?

Would Ross or the U.N. ever have humbled themselves and admitted that they couldn’t handle something before it was too late?

Never. Not a chance.

I understand your point. Some might argue that the Avengers should have disappeared, went underground, and did nothing that could be proven to violate the Accords in the meantime. However, their friends and allies could have carried on a PR and legal battle to counter Ross's false narrative about them and get rid of the Accords. But why didn't they do this? The issue of Bucky Barnes came up. It was too much to ask to expect Steve Rogers to sit around knowing the U.N. had put a kill order out on his best, and oldest friend. Knowing the extreme consequences and the lack of due process based on one piece of faked evidence, Steve couldn't bear the thought of Bucky being hurt or killed in the crossfire of any attempt to take him into custody.

However, there were other problems with the idea of retiring. "Retiring" really wouldn't have mitigated the significant risks to the Avengers or their loved ones. Any government who wanted to could create a pretext to accuse them of violating the Accords or simply declare that they were too dangerous. They could then be held indefinitely without due process and without any trial. Exploited, abused, assaulted, extorted, experimented on, enslaved, and otherwise mistreated with impunity. Their loved ones could be used against them, and their tech and other resources could be confiscated. All with total impunity and without legal recourse. That's how bad the Accords were.

Furthermore, the Accords required that any "enhanced person" — and they were written to apply to every Avenger, even the vanilla human ones — submit to the collection of biometric and other personal information. In addition, they were required to undergo a thorough scientific exploration of the basis of their abilities. No anonymity. No protection for loved ones. Their most personal information and vulnerabilities would be out there for the taking or simply the using in the hands of organizations that they already knew were corrupt and totally incompetent.

The Avengers couldn't stand for this. The stakes were simply too high for anyone that might be considered an "enhanced person" under the Accords. The violation of fundamental human, civil, and due process rights, not to mention a laundry list of constitutional provisions, was unacceptable to them. Thus, the Avengers made the difficult decision to continue their vigilante justice and protect their loved ones rather than succumb to the oppressive and tyrannical Accords.

Their decision reflected a deeper conflict between their duty to protect and the institutional failure to protect them under the guise of misguided legislation. While the idea of retiring or going underground might seem attractive in theory, it overlooked the harsh realities and the stark consequences that the Accords presented.

Key Takeaways From the Avengers' Decision

1. **Underlying Risks and Threats**: The Accords introduced overwhelming risks to the Avengers and their loved ones, including indefinite detention, exploitation, and loss of personal freedoms.

2. **Institutional Failure**: The failure of existing governmental institutions to protect the Avengers led to the creation of a despondent and righteous force of vigilante justice.

3. **Personal Ethics vs. Law**: The Avengers' commitment to personal ethics and the well-being of their loved ones overrode their legal obligations under the Accords, highlighting the moral imperative in their actions.

Conclusion

The decision made by the Avengers in 'Captain America: Civil War' to not retire like General Ross suggested was a response to a complex set of circumstances. The perceived failings of the U.S. government and the harsh realities of the Accords forced them to take action to protect themselves and their loved ones. The choice might have been difficult, but it was a necessary one given the extreme situations they faced.

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