I interpret the word "fight" from your use of the word "coward".
Ah, I can see how you'd get that interpretation, but "cowardly" behavior isn't limited to
physical danger.
For example, if someone avoids or runs away from doing something they truly desire because they fear the negative consequences that may arise in the worst case scenario, they are being cowardly. This is not limited to physical consequences.
Bravery is going after what you desire
despite the fear of negative consequences that may arise in the worst case scenario. If you truly desire something, you should never allow someone to simply take it from you without putting up some resistance. The resistance, or fight, does not need to be manifested physically.
Martin Luther King Jr fought for what he desired. He didn't run away or flee form the challenge. He also didn't resort to violence. He was no coward. Had he decided that instead of fighting he would just muddle along and not make waves, he would have been acting in a cowardly fashion.
But with resistance comes hardship. Always.
Facing that hardship in order to attain your goals is bravery. Running away from hardship and relinquishing your goals without resistance... that is cowardice.
At the same time, I don't think poorly of people for acting in a cowardly fashion. I would, however, think poorly of
myself for it (and I actually
have thought poorly of myself in past instances when I
did act in a cowardly fashion).
I would buy that except for the whole "I'd send my family away first" statement you subsequently made.
As I said above, resistance always goes hand in hand with hardship. While
I am willing to accept the hardships my resistance would necessarily lead to, I would not place those hardships upon my family. I would seek to put them in a situation where they could avoid those hardships, which would affect them as much as me during my resistance.
The hardships can occur in any variety of forms, many of which are not physically violent.
Just admit it, you think anyone who leaves the US is a coward. You know it's true, stop your dodging you partisan hack. :2razz:
I can has hackburger? :mrgreen:
The irony of this discussion we're having is that leaving the US because you
want to leave the US is something I would
actually classify as an act of "
bravery". Doing so because that is what you desire is actually taking on risks that you could
avoid by not leaving, but choosing instead to
accept those risks in order to fulfill your desires is admirable, IMO.
Which is why I would
never,
ever call leaving of your own accord in order to fulfill your desires "fleeing". I think using that word degrades and insults the inherent
bravery of the action.