Labelling someone as a 'racist' was once an effective way of discrediting their opinion by way of insult, assuming the 'racist' was also a coward. No longer. 'Racists' now know they could be attacked for their opinions, and voicing an opinion that could make one a martyr is called courage. (Or stupidity depending on threat level.) The more timelessly searing insult is coward, which cannot be reasonably applied to any so-called 'racists.'
Unlike the political nature of the 'racist' insult, the coward insult directly strikes at a person's pride, the source of all sin. Dimensions of cowardice go beyond superficial intersections of race and gender politics; it probes a person's being: their psychology, behavior, personal history, fears, desires, hopes, loves, dreams etc etc.
Anyone embarrassed to do a good deed is a coward. Breaking up over the phone is cowardly. Lying is cowardly. Stealing is cowardly. Adultery is cowardly. Facebook opinions are cowardly. (Blogs too.) Apologizing for 'racism' is cowardly. Anti-racist protest groups Antifa and #BLM are cowards. (They are overwhelmingly supported by celebrities, corporations, contrarian politicians and the mainstream media. Low information public opinion is loudly on their side. It is therefore easier to protest violently when there is no opposition or risk of arrest/death. Then they self-congratulate themselves for "speaking truth to power" when true power would never give these protestors a platform to speak "truth," let alone a pat on the back. Just sayin') Selfishness is cowardly. An armed officer running away from an active shooter in a high school is a coward. Aborting the pregnancy is cowardly. Littering is cowardly, if fun.
We all know the reason: cowardice is easy and ease does not earn respect. (Everyone wants to be respected.) On the other hand, heroism requires sacrifice while cowardice demands comfort; heroism is chosen by few and cowardice enslaves many.
As long as we are human, the power of the 'coward' insult can never diminish, and when used tactfully, with love, it can peacefully--if slowly--soften hearts of stone.
When I first started talking to people in front of Planned Parenthood, I found that the clients of the clinic willing to have frank conversations surprised me with their moral opposition to abortion. It was the rare circumstances of rape and incest that they reluctantly felt that the woman had 'the right to choose.' (Less than 2% of abortions by the way.) Because this is a politically neutral position, it is a cowardly position. Abortion is a moral question first, and a political question second. The line in the sand has been drawn. On one side of the line is life, and on the other side is death. There is no option for both; they logically cancel each other out. In the case of grave moral evil neutrality is always cowardice.
Though rape is an act of evil, terminating a pregnancy i.e murdering an innocent fetus, is also evil. Evil ought never be done for the sake of good because it logically cancels out the good. People know this truth, even if, out of pride, they won't admit it.
This truth is written on everyone's heart, but our culture of death is upheld by a population of cowards. Abortion always kills an innocent life, and that life never chose its method of conception. No 'buts' about it. If you do not like abortion but are still pro-choice, you are a coward. If you are content with being a coward, you are a coward with a heart of stone. Humility is the only antidote for cowardice. (I pray that no one has to meet their maker/commit a grave evil before they accept this.)
To stem the risk of the greatest insult losing its full potential, I use it sparingly, sometimes with levity. Love sometimes takes time to work, and God knows that rarely is a heart changed instantly. But calling someone out on their cowardice can certainly hasten some on their journey!
Happy Respect Life Month!
