A4E,
That situation sounds to have been very difficult for you, and thank you for sharing about your experience. Were you feeling afraid of the man, or that he might turn his physical aggression at you and try to beat your ass? Were you having any physical sensations like rapid breathing and heart rate, like a fight or flight response when you witnessed him hitting his daughter, and at your own thinking of intervening? Also, why does not intervening == necessarily being a coward? Have you dialogued with yourself about what was going on for you in that situation and if you had personal fears come up for you, like being harmed yourself? Have you given your ANY empathy as what that situation was like for you and that little girl? I'm curious to know more about what was going on for you in that experience, and I'm not interested in telling you what you should have done.
I have intervened a few times on behalf of children being yelled at, threatened, assaulted et al, and I had physical reactions, and even readied myself for physical attack as I know it is very possible for that type of escalation. My interventions weren't taken on lightly, and I always consider my safety first when deciding to intervene. Do you think one choosing their own safety and well-being in witnessing an abuse situation and not intervening is a cowardly act, or should one not have any concern for one's own well-being and possible consequences and go all in?
I am having curiosity toward to this coward characterization you and another are applying to you. I don't see many question marks in this thread. Have you given yourself any sympathy at witnessing what was happening to and for that little girl, and how you were feeling?