Individual Aes Sedai can and often do perform great acts. The Aes Sedai as a collective on the other hand, whether it's the united White Tower, Elaida's Tower, or the Salidar rebels, accomplish little. I would have to look into it all a bit more closely to be sure (perhaps during another reread) but it might even be fair to say that they do more harm than good.
You are conveniently forgetting that for all practical purposes Elaida IS the WT. At least as far a public pronouncements and actions are concerned. If you haven't noticed, she rules the tower with an iron fist, and the least bit of non-compliance with her edicts (or the ones given her by the Black Ajah) are met with exceedingly harsh punishment. I've already agreed with the OP that as far as fighting the Shadow is concerned Elaida is pretty superfluous. But that's NOT what was written!!! The original post said "Aes Sedai are superfluous". That is what I disagree with. If the orignal post had said. "Elaida is such a meglomaniac that she is effing everything up" I would go "Right on brother" In fact approx 1/3 of all AS agree to the extent that they are focused 100% on getting her out of there.
Unfortunately, that is not what the original post said. Basically he said that the only thing the AS do is bumble about getting in other ppls way.
NaCl(THAT is what I take issue with)H2O

This message last edited by NaClH2O on 05/09/2009 at 03:19:02 AM
You know... it feels like the Aes Sedai are pretty superflouous
02/09/2009 09:48:19 PM
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Y'know, the paralells betwen the Aes Sedai in the White Tower...
02/09/2009 10:46:29 PM
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That is the inspiration for the Aes Sedai that RJ used - I can't find the article, though.
03/09/2009 02:39:14 PM
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When I was reading this I was thinking of the paralells between the white tower and
03/09/2009 02:47:33 AM
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And yet the WT has been THE single greatest force for continuity and civilization.
03/09/2009 03:37:14 AM
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Re: And yet the WT has been THE single greatest force for continuity and civilization.
03/09/2009 05:46:13 AM
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Really?
03/09/2009 05:52:38 AM
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Re: Really?
03/09/2009 06:03:13 AM
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So lets add a few more
03/09/2009 11:42:48 AM
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most of these are accounted for above
03/09/2009 02:18:01 PM
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Just because we don't know all their names, doesn't mean their effectiveness on the Pattern was less
03/09/2009 03:19:41 PM
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But who did the work?
03/09/2009 05:37:00 PM
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While these are good, none of it is because of the White Tower
03/09/2009 05:43:56 PM
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So if Elaida didn't order it, it doesn't count?
03/09/2009 07:29:20 PM
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Actually I think that's his point
04/09/2009 01:40:37 PM
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Re: Actually I think that's his point
05/09/2009 03:17:25 AM
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Re: But who did the work?
04/09/2009 01:32:19 PM
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Only one point because obviously your mind is made up.
05/09/2009 06:13:23 AM
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well, yeah
05/09/2009 02:33:51 PM
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In that case, Rand, Mat, Perrin... all of them are superfluous.
05/09/2009 03:03:07 PM
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Re: In that case, Rand, Mat, Perrin... all of them are superfluous.
05/09/2009 04:57:44 PM
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I don't understand your point
03/09/2009 04:25:22 PM
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Re: I don't understand your point
03/09/2009 09:09:38 PM
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I was talking about the WT specifically, and only during recent years. It's Gotta be the Shadow,
03/09/2009 05:39:11 PM
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So what you are really saying is that if you ignore over 2/3rds of the AS the rest aren't doing much
03/09/2009 06:07:23 PM
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I'm talking about the organization as a whole
03/09/2009 10:07:37 PM
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You just made our point...
04/09/2009 12:49:44 AM
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WT has been THE single greatest force for stagancy and lack of development.
09/09/2009 08:58:58 AM
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Like I said earlier the AS are superfluous except the ones who aren't superfluous.
09/09/2009 11:55:47 AM
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To a certain extent
03/09/2009 11:33:30 AM
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Actually, I think Verin is a good metaphor here.
03/09/2009 07:59:46 PM
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Agrees with Nossy
03/09/2009 10:44:06 PM
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