Cowardice - why punishable? - Historum

philosopher · November 28th, 2012, 06:05 AM

Why is cowardice punishable?

Its not something people can control.

If you cannot control it, you can't avoid it.

**diddyriddick** · November 28th, 2012, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philosopher

Why is cowardice punishable?

Its not something people can control.

If you cannot control it, you can't avoid it.

Armies (and by extension nations) live and die on discipline. If there were no punishment for cowardice there would be no army.

**DreamWeaver** · November 28th, 2012, 06:54 AM

Militaries are hypermasculine environments, cowardice is not a 'masculine' trait, so cant be having that.

Command and unit cohesions breakdown and become ineffective if their are 'weak' links in their chains.

Fear and cowardice might be natural human reactions, but they are not desirable in military circumstances, so they have to be removed by a chosen methodology.

**tjadams** · November 28th, 2012, 06:59 AM

When a massive dragnet of drafting is used, there's bound to be a lot of people not
even remotely mentally fit for combat. Besides, when the human emotion of survival
is switched on, it is hard to say what anyone would do when faced with it. What's the
line between being labeled a coward and suicidal in war?

hazratemahmood · November 28th, 2012, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philosopher

Why is cowardice punishable?

Its not something people can control.

If you cannot control it, you can't avoid it.

Cowardice and fear are epidemic diseases, and most people have no idea how destructive they can be. In the Battle of Sedan (in WWII) cowardice of some soldiers probably led to the eventual fall of France. In the ensuing disorder caused by cowardice a superior army can be easily defeated by a less well equipped enemy; and by this logic a soldier who fails to fulfill his responsibility while in action should not be kept in the body of an army.

In my opinion if you are there by choice, then cowardice should be punishable. It is as simple as that.

Jhangora · November 28th, 2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Cowardice is a trait wherein fear and excess self-concern override what is socially-deemed as right and courageous action —it is the opposite of courage. As a label, "cowardice" indicates a perceived failure to demonstrate sufficient mental robustness and courage in the face of a challenge.

Cowardice

It makes us become slaves. Masters who want a lot of sheep encourage making Cows out of Men/Women.

**Mosquito** · November 28th, 2012, 07:45 AM

one coward on the battlefield can destroy the morale of the whole army

constantine · November 28th, 2012, 07:50 AM

You can hang a few cowards or you can allow your men to flee at the first sight of danger, watch your army break before the enemy and be slaughtered, and see your lands taken and your family killed. Which do you think is the better choice?