Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for August 05, 2013

Really? “Blood and Guts” Patton said that?!

I am enjoying this strip. It makes me think. Yes, the last strip was jarring. The father’s hug of acceptance of his son was touching….the last frame illustrated a disturbing potentiality. The historical context of Patton’s quote, today, might be interesting. The romantic panes that were inked may have been to a quote where the fork in the road led to an action of the, perhaps necessary, carnage of war. I enjoy this strip. It inspires thought…..

Veteran, You have mentioned your wife was a waitress when you met her. Does this bring back memories?

Yeah a bit jarring after the last strip I know. Appreciate the feedback everyone.

I found this strip yesterday. I truly enjoyed reading the quotes under a new light. Thank You, Zen Pencils.

I did read it. He needs help. That is in his mind and he needs to change. I did in mine.Peace and Love is good thing but there are things out there that need to be handled. Afghan War should be over. Our fight is with Al-Qaeda not the Afghan people. He kills a sniper who would have killed him and he feels bad?? He wallows in self pity because he got the bad end of roadside bomb. I personally executed an enemy soldier we had captured. We were twenty miles behind enemy lines. Could not let him go. Our mission was not to be found or seen. You think letting him go he would not tell. Leave him tied up and maybe they will not find us if they found him? Choices is what it is all about.I feel sorry for him and his family. He needs help. The war did not do this to him he has done it to himself. As the story that day said he needs to become the Captain of his Soul. Get the demons off of him and go forward. He would be more a murderer if he allowed the sniper to kill his buddies, his friends, his allies. The kid crying is an unfortunate part of war. How many families cried after 9-11, Boston, London, Spain, Embassies in Africa. If he was not a sniper I would see a problem. I see none here. I know I have ended men’s lives who had family and kids. Even met one here stateside way after the war. He described how his father was killed in Laos by a sniper known as the Rooster. That was my code name in the field at the time. He described the place, the time, even the shot placement. I told him it was me. The look was something I would never forget. What he did next I will never forget. He shook my hand and thanked me for at least being professional about it. The war is over he said lets leave it at that.The words in the story should resonate for your cousin. He needs to become his Captain. No one else can do it for him.I have dealt with my demons. I will probably have to answer for them when my time comes. I am ready and prepared to meet my fate one way or the other. Your cousin needs to face his now or crawl to handgun and free them all.One way or the other he needs to make a choice.

then, of course, some bozos mistake a courteous, friendly waitress (mindful of a good tip) for someone attracted to them

What a good strip. Courage can take many forms, few of which are fighting monsters & vicious bullies. To think that your couragous act should set the bar for others’ “reaching beyond the comfort zone” is a form of narcisism. Veteran, I get a sense you need an audience, or at least one good listener to help you get underneath your proclamations. Whay not start your own strip, blog, or op-ed column? ….. Anyway, Gavin, bravo & kudos for addressing a seldom addressed area—that of taking risks in the name of love. For every one person who had to kill or fight someone in the name of duty, there are thousands of “lesser” interpersonal risks people take that are worthy of respect & compassion.

Dear Gavin,Your work here is more than a mere “comic strip.” Well done again. If your goal is to get people to think, I would say (judging from your reader’s posts) that you are ninety-eight percent successful.

RUN FOOL RUN !!

i’m loving this strip. Cool idea. Lots of subtlety. Great art style. Gentle and powerful at the same time.

Hi, Gavin! I’ve enjoyed your strip so much, I added to the lineup to be read mornings called 9 Chickweed Zen (Starting with 9 Chickweed Lane and ending with Zen Pencils ). And I notice one fimiliar poster from the bowels of that cesspool of a comic called Endtown! Enough said. Anyway, I hope to enjoy this one as I did with others…well some of them, so to speak. Later days.

And about that time, her husband walks in.

So far, I really like this strip. It is a whole new direction for me as far as comics are concerned.

Agreed!

POPULAR COMIC!!!!

Stepping his Game Up! I can dig it!

Aww…it’s a cliffhanger ending!

I hope the artist was not discouraged by a few negative comments. I have recommended this toon.

BURP! Says the king!