Military Review English Edition July-August 2016 | Page 142

to do what he is supposed to do.” From there, he sets
out to prove that cowardice is dangerous in its ability to
cause inaction or drive recklessness, and useful as a tool
for self-examination and development. He does this
through a survey of the societal concepts of cowardice
throughout American history.
Walsh marks the transformation of America’s view
of cowardice through its wars. From the American
Revolution to the War on Terror, Walsh traces the use
of the word. He argues that the Civil War marked a
shift in the previously pejorative understanding of the
word, and it also
ushered in the
medicalization of
cowardly behavior.
What was once
considered cowardly was medically
excused during
the Civil War as
“nostalgia” and
“soldier’s heart.” In
later wars, it became “shell shock”
and posttraumatic
stress disorder. As
evident through
these changes, Walsh argues, society’s attitude toward
cowardice has softened over time.
Walsh