It's ok Karen...I didn't say it was intentional. However I do insist that including a descriptive term like "coward" within a grouping of nonsensical descriptions trivializes. I think we can dispense with it as a form of rationale for argument.
As to the definition of coward.
From the American Heritage Dictionary:
SYLLABICATION: cow·ard
PRONUNCIATION: kourd
NOUN: One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old French couard, from coue, tail, from Latin cauda.
OTHER FORMS: coward —ADJECTIVE
WORD HISTORY: A coward is one who “turns tail.” The word comes from Old French couart, coart, “coward,” and is related to Italian codardo, “coward.” Couart is formed from coe, a northern French dialectal variant of cue, “tail” (from Latin cda), to which the derogatory suffix –ard was added. This suffix appears in bastard, laggard, and sluggard, to name a few. A coward may also be one with his tail between his legs. In heraldry a lion couard, “cowardly lion,” was depicted with his tail between his legs. So a coward may be one with his tail hidden between his legs or one who turns tail and runs like a rabbit, with his tail showing.
Would you consider Osama hiding in a cave (hole) a cowardly act? If you didn't think his behavior WRT the attack was cowardly, do you consider his current behavior subjecting more innocent people to harm or death while protecting himself cowardly?? Would it be a cowardly act if he threw on a burqa and tried to escape? |
