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When something goes wrong in the world, people have a tendency to blame others; especially those in power. In the United States for example, it's very common for people to blame the president for current problems, regardless on whether or not he/ she has any actual control over the problem.
Likewise, people in the world of ATLA tend to blame the Avatar when something goes wrong.
The fire nation attacks; blame the Avatar.
People get hurt in a war; blame the Avatar.
Can't solve your own problems; blame the Avatar.
The Avatar's mission is to bring balance to the world. However, the Avatar did not create the world's problems, and is ultimately not responsible for the actions of other people.
Like the janitor for the world, the Avatar cleans up messes and helps bring order to the world, but more often than not the janitor is blamed for the mess existing in the first place. The irony is that if people cleaned up their own messes, there would be no need of a Janitor.
This brings me to the subject of Avatar Roku. Many Avatar fans blame Roku for the 100 yr war, and Roku even blames himself.
But is it really Roku's fault?
Roku grew up in the Fire Nation with his best friend Sozin, eventually finding out he was the Avatar, and traveling across the world. When Roku returned to the Fire Nation, Sozin told Roku his plans for world conquest which Roku immediately rejected. Later, Sozin invaded Earth Kingdom territory for which Roku confronted and defeated Sozin. Roku had given Sozin two warnings, and there would not be a third. However, as soon as Roku died, Sozin renewed his plans for global domination.
Although fans and Roku himself blame him for the war, I can not fault him. Roku saw a problem and did something about it. He was decisive.
Just because his wasn't able to prevent a war, doesn't mean he caused the War nor is he responsible for the actions of other. (Sozin's an adult. And can be responsible for his own actions.)
Roku's actions were natural and reasonable. Plus, most people don't think of murder as their first solution to everything.
(Seriously, execution isn't the only way to solve problems.)
On a similar note, companies do "preventative measures" to keep people safe. However, people will still get hurt because no rules or regulations can protect stupid people from themselves.
The Avatar isn't some perfect person who can perfectly solve every problem. (Say that 5 times fast). They are a human being who is doing the best they can.