You may not ever have seen the definition of the word:
cow·ard Pronunciation Key (kourd)
n.
One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English, from Old French couard, from coue, tail, from Latin cauda.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
coward adj.
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.
......................
I think Osama is, as I have always said, a zealot, and a murderer- I think those are two of the very worst things anyone can be. Many people are cowards. Many people on SI are cowards. I don't find coward to be a particularly horrible thing- but whether you think it is, or not, it does not appear to apply to Osama. Now how you can get "talking well" about Osama out of that, and out of my reluctance to depart from the English language and join you in a redefinition of words, is beyond me. Again- are you insane, or just lying? Remember, only those two choices- which is it? |
