Lily-Livered Cowards

Merriam-Webster explains the origin of the phrase, lily-livered coward. No, it was not from a Western movie, although that's where many may have heard it first. Shakespeare actually made the expression popular. It is "a literary insult referring to someone who is cowardly and lacking in courage. The phrase comes from medieval beliefs about the liver and its connection to temperament. In these beliefs, a person with a pale or white liver, like the color of a lily, was thought to be spiritless and cowardly." Recently, we have seen the actions of two lily-livered cowards. One shot the CEO of a company in the back on a public sidewalk without any personal provocation. The other gunned down a young Jewish couple who would have been engaged to be married in just a few days. The gunman was heard to shout, "Free Palestine!"

Is that the goal? Does he really expect people to say, "Two innocent people have been murdered. Maybe we ought to listen to the guy who killed them"? Really? If that was the purpose for the shooting, it failed. He has only convinced people even more that those supporting the Palestinian cause are frequently lawless and fanatical—unworthy of receiving any audience whatsoever. He acted without any authority from God to do what he did. Furthermore, if any two criminals deserve the death penalty, these two do. Most of us will be disappointed if they do not receive it. The evidence of guilt is more than sufficient, and God authorizes capital punishment for those who kill their fellow human beings (Gen. 9:5-6; Rom. 13:1-7).

Or were the killings threats? "This is the way innocent civilians will be treated unless we have our way." Sorry. That won't work, either. Decent human beings stood up against the evil Adolph Hitler and the emperor of Japan, and they are not about to be intimidated by a two-bit thug who got hold of a weapon more powerful than he is. Everyone condemns Joab for what he did to Abner. David had met with Abner, and they were at peace. Abner promised to facilitate David's being king over all Israel. Joab had been absent during that meeting, but he received information about it; he went to greet Abner, and he slew him—a man who was unprepared for a fight (2 Sam. 3:20-27; 1 Kings 2:5). Joab was a great soldier; he could have challenged Abner to a fair fight—a duel, perhaps—but instead he took the coward's way out and killed him without warning.

Anyone has a right to protest in this country. Our freedoms grant a person the right to express an opinion—even if it's wrong. People do not have the right to foment rebellion and violence. Academic freedom should not include the right to call for the death of one's opponents. People can protest for human rights, for freedom, for justice—in hopes that their voices will be heard. College students have no right to call upon people to act the part of a lily-livered coward.