Roger Cohen: Difference between revisions
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Cohen wrote a series of articles for the New York Times in February 2009 about a trip he conducted to Iran. In his writings he expressed [[opposition to military action against Iran]] and encouraged negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic.<ref name="NYT223">{{cite news |first=Roger|last=Cohen|title=What Iran’s Jews Say|work=The New York Times |date=Feb. 22, 2009 |accessdate=22 April 2009 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/opinion/23cohen.html?_r=1&ref=opinion}}</ref> He also remarked that [[Persian Jews|Iranian Jews]] were well treated, writing "of a a Jewish community living, working and worshipping in relative tranquillity." He also described the hospitality that he received in spite of his Jewish background.<ref name="NYT223"/> |
Cohen wrote a series of articles for the New York Times in February 2009 about a trip he conducted to Iran. In his writings he expressed [[opposition to military action against Iran]] and encouraged negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic.<ref name="NYT223">{{cite news |first=Roger|last=Cohen|title=What Iran’s Jews Say|work=The New York Times |date=Feb. 22, 2009 |accessdate=22 April 2009 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/opinion/23cohen.html?_r=1&ref=opinion}}</ref> He also remarked that [[Persian Jews|Iranian Jews]] were well treated, writing "of a a Jewish community living, working and worshipping in relative tranquillity." He also described the hospitality that he received in spite of his Jewish background.<ref name="NYT223"/> |
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His positive depiction of Jewish life in Iran sparked |
His positive depiction of Jewish life in Iran sparked some criticism from columnists and activists, including [[Jeffrey Goldberg]] of ''[[The Atlantic]] Monthly'',<ref>[http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/02/roger_cohens_very_happy_visit.php "Roger Cohen's Very Happy Visit with Iran's Jews] | Jeffrey Goldberg's ''Atlantic Blog'', Feb. 26, 2009</ref> [[Richard Chesnoff]] of [[The Huffington Post]],<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-z-chesnoff/did-ya-hear-the-one-about_b_169351.html "Did Ya' Hear The One About Cohen & The Iranian Jews?"] | [[The Huffington Post]], Feb. 23, 2009</ref> and [[Rafael Medoff]], director of the the [[David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies]]. In his [[Jerusalem Post]] [[op-ed]], Medoff criticized Cohen for being “misled by the existence of synagogues” into believing that Iran has a vibrant Jewish community living in relative tranquility. In reality, he argues, Iranian Jews "are captives of the regime, and whatever they say is carefully calibrated not to get themselves into trouble."<ref>{{cite news |first=Rafael|last=Medoff|title=Don't turn Iran's Jews into a political football |work=Jerusalem Post |date=Feb. 26, 2009 |accessdate=22 April 2009 |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1235410717966&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull}}</ref> |
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Roger Cohen responded on March 2, 2009, defending his observations and further elaborated on what he felt that Iran was receptive to negotiations and not a totalitarian regime.<ref name="NYT302">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/opinion/02cohen.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss</ref> He ended with a warning: |
Roger Cohen responded on March 2, 2009, defending his observations and further elaborated on what he felt that Iran was receptive to negotiations and not a totalitarian regime.<ref name="NYT302">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/opinion/02cohen.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss</ref> He ended with a warning: |
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Revision as of 20:53, 1 May 2009
Roger Cohen | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 2, 1955 |
| Education | Westminster School in London and Balliol College Oxford (Modern History and Languages) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, Columnist, Author |
| Notable credit(s) | The International Herald Tribune, The New York Times |
| Spouse | Frida Baranek |
| Children | 4 |
Roger Cohen (born August 2, 1955, in London) is a columnist for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune (a publication of The New York Times). His columns, which usually appear in the online edition of the Times, focus on international politics and relations as well as food and wine. Cohen is a graduate of Balliol College at Oxford University, having been prior to that at Westminster School. He has won numerous awards and honors for his books and for his foreign correspondence, such as the Peter Weitz Prize for Dispatches from Europe, the Arthur F. Burns Prize, and the Joe Alex Morris lectureship at Harvard University.
Iran writings and responses
Cohen wrote a series of articles for the New York Times in February 2009 about a trip he conducted to Iran. In his writings he expressed opposition to military action against Iran and encouraged negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic.[1] He also remarked that Iranian Jews were well treated, writing "of a a Jewish community living, working and worshipping in relative tranquillity." He also described the hospitality that he received in spite of his Jewish background.[1]
His positive depiction of Jewish life in Iran sparked some criticism from columnists and activists, including Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic Monthly,[2] Richard Chesnoff of The Huffington Post,[3] and Rafael Medoff, director of the the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies. In his Jerusalem Post op-ed, Medoff criticized Cohen for being “misled by the existence of synagogues” into believing that Iran has a vibrant Jewish community living in relative tranquility. In reality, he argues, Iranian Jews "are captives of the regime, and whatever they say is carefully calibrated not to get themselves into trouble."[4]
Roger Cohen responded on March 2, 2009, defending his observations and further elaborated on what he felt that Iran was receptive to negotiations and not a totalitarian regime.[5] He ended with a warning:
- "I return to this subject because behind the Jewish issue in Iran lies a critical one — the U.S. propensity to fixate on and demonize a country through a one-dimensional lens, with a sometimes disastrous chain of results."[5]
On March 12, Cohen met with members of the Persian Jewish as well as Bahai community at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles after being inundated by critical emails on his column. Based on their own negative experiences as minorities in Iran, the audience members expressed their anger and bitterness over Cohen's positive portrayal of life in Iran.[6] Writing in The Huffington Post following the event, Rabbi David Wolpe, moderator of the discussion, expressed exasperation that despite the challenges posed by him and the audience, Cohen was unwilling to seriously appreciate the radical ideology of the Iranian government.[7]
Positions
- Freelance writer (Paris; 1977-79)
- Foreign correspondent for Reuters (London, Brussels, and Rome; 1979-83)
The Wall Street Journal
- 1983 - Opened their Rome office, covering Italy and the east Mediterranean, reporting from Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon
- 1987 - Opened their Rio de Janeiro office as chief South American correspondent, covering Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and Venezuela
The New York Times
- Media reporter (1990-92)
- European economic correspondent (Paris; 1992-94)
- Balkan bureau chief (Zagreb; 1994-95)
- Correspondent in Paris bureau (1995-98)
- Berlin bureau chief (1999-2001)
- Deputy foreign editor (2001)
- Acting foreign editor (2001-2002)
- Foreign editor (2002-2004)
- International affairs columnist for the Times and for the International Herald Tribune (2004-present)
Bibliography
- Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo. New York: Random House, 1998. ISBN 0679452435 ISBN 978-0679452430
- (With Claudio Gatti) In the Eye of the Storm: The Life of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1991. ASIN B000FFQBG2
- Soldiers and Slaves: American POWs Trapped by the Nazis' Final Gamble. New York: Knopf, 2005. ISBN 037541410X ISBN 978-0375414107
References
- ^ a b Cohen, Roger (Feb. 22, 2009). "What Iran's Jews Say". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Roger Cohen's Very Happy Visit with Iran's Jews | Jeffrey Goldberg's Atlantic Blog, Feb. 26, 2009
- ^ "Did Ya' Hear The One About Cohen & The Iranian Jews?" | The Huffington Post, Feb. 23, 2009
- ^ Medoff, Rafael (Feb. 26, 2009). "Don't turn Iran's Jews into a political football". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/opinion/02cohen.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
- ^ Tugend, Tom (March 16, 2009). "Roger Cohen spars with Iranian Jewish expats". JTA. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
- ^ Wolpe, Rabbi David (March 16, 2009). "Clashing Over Iran and the Jews". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 April 2009.