Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for March 17, 2014
Transcript:
The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.' The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don't want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and causes. Those who won't take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don't like to make waves or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honor, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small... die small. It's the reductionist approach to life, if you keep it small, you'll keep it under control. If you don't make any noise, the bogeyman won't find you. But it's all an illusion, becasue they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. SAFE?! Life is always on the edge of death. Narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues.... and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn. -Sophie Scholl
Joseph Paisley over 10 years ago
Ooh, V! Very cool
shamest Premium Member over 10 years ago
Oh yeah awesome
Chrystos B Minot Premium Member over 10 years ago
Whew. What a way to wake up at 5:30 am. On the other hand, the chinese medecine way of looking at things is that if you are constantly angry, you are afflicted - overheating of the liver. That relentless anger shortens the life and makes things irritable, angry, impatient, unappreciative. I say take action, but why do we have to get a huge head of steam to take action? (Which I have done)….. Does she have to get really angry to take a first step - like get rid of her disgusting slacker of a husband / lover/ roommate? Sometimes the changes close to home are the hardest…) Anyway, thanks Gavin, for once again lifting the genre of comics up from the vapid and callow! …. (I work really, really hard as a massage theraspist to soothe peoples’ profound / dangerous levels of stress – so they can (choose &) fight their battles effectively… & enjoy life…) … Anyway, thnx again, cold shower dude!
StoicLion1973 over 10 years ago
Where is the part where these protesters caused millions in damage to public property and committed multiple violent crimes?
j2p2 over 10 years ago
Oh my…how very uncomfortable a piece to read this morning…or any morning. But I love it.
nahuku over 10 years ago
“Choose your battles wisely.”
Michael Thorton over 10 years ago
@Zen PencilsGavin-sama, I like the Guy Fawkes mask, but not all of us are like this, you know.
Vet Premium Member over 10 years ago
A real change of pace. Sophie Scholl was a member of a non violent resistance group back in Nazi Germany.Was sentenced to death for distributing anti war leaflets 1943.I prefer her last statement.“Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”One does not have to use violence to resist or cause change was her message.
MeGoNow Premium Member over 10 years ago
But then, she died. Didn’t change a thing. Not even close. Started out with some sort of idea, but tried to fight monsters with words. Monsters don’t care about words. Mao could have taught her one essential truth.
RobinAZ over 10 years ago
Oh I really love this!
queenkimmie over 10 years ago
What I see is a bunch of people trying to change everyone else instead of themselves. Change only comes if you are willing to change.
aerilim over 10 years ago
That is why I only watch cartoons on TV…..
vldazzle over 10 years ago
Protesting is no way to accomplishment.I did nothing outstanding in my career, but I never accepted failure either (and DID extract myself from a bad marriage). I don’t associate with violent people, and now that I’m retired, I try not to get very political (even though I’ll always have an opinion)- TMZ calls me regularly to be “on” and I sometimes accept.
Dave Thompson Premium Member over 10 years ago
Wow!
Ironhold over 10 years ago
Military costs are “in the trillions” because the US has been cast in the dubious role of having to play the world’s police officer.
The UK and Canada are, IIRC, the only NATO nations aside from the US that have lived up to the minimum funding requirements; everyone else didn’t have their militaries in order, something that came back to haunt the world during Lybia when the US made Europe take the lead.
The US’ failure to intervene in Syria when it should have has turned the nation into a slaughterhouse, and Obama’s constant acquiescing to Russia has allowed them to snatch up the Crimea by intimidating the residents into voting for separation.
So before people get on their high horses about the US cutting its military budget, folks need to ask themselves just who will handle matters if the US decides that it no longer wants to save the day.
kaffekup over 10 years ago
As I’ve always said, nonviolent protest only works when you’re dealing with a nation which has a conscience that can finally, over time, be aroused to demand that right triumph. Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, never going to work.
hippogriff over 10 years ago
Kaffekup: And say that in all situations and you become the enabler of injustice, then the accomplice of it, and maybe even rise to the gauleiter/commissar level within it.
Vet Premium Member over 10 years ago
Its not the police job to side with one or the other. Its their (mine) job to keep property and safety in line. Throwing rocks, overturn and burning cars, breaking into “corporate” stores is not protesting but criminal action.Be loud and be vocal but not destructive that is when police get involved. Remember other folks have their rights too and just because you protest does not give you the right to take theirs.Her protesting did not work well in that time. In fact she was guillotined for it. The point is at least she and her group said something.Brave but not very conducive to survival.
soldcake over 10 years ago
Not just protest. Do something ! ! !Run for president. Make an enterprise. Establish a school. Run a shop. Anything.Do not whine.
jemgirl81 over 10 years ago
S
jemgirl81 over 10 years ago
Oops. I can’t delete my previous comment on my Ipad. My finger accidentally hit the submit button before I wrote out my comment. lol Anyway, I’m just surprised she didn’t break her foot after taking out that TV screen.
alexzabala over 10 years ago
One of her problems is the loser boyfriend/husband. If he was pulling his weight by WORKING, they could manage while she finds another job. One that will recognize her talents. Or better yet….follow the advice of former Zen Pencil wisdom and become self employed….I did…I used to work for corporate America…not anymore!!! Oh…and i don’t have to protest on the street
kaffekup over 10 years ago
Why must commenters on this strip always assume I’m saying something that I’m not?The point is that there are regimes that nonviolence will not work with.You don’t become a “gauleiter/commisar”, you become a soldier and overthrow them.Nonviolence did work with Britain and the US.