Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen is drawing some heat for a recent article of his, entitled, "Ferguson and Benghazi's Troubling Parallels."
Cohen starts his piece with, "Ferguson has become the liberal Benghazi. It is more of a cause than a place, more of an ideological statement than an incident..."
Another "interesting" quote from Cohen's article is when he said this: "...Let me offer another conclusion: If (Michael) Brown was not criminally shot because he was black, then possibly the cop was accused because he was white. Who was the stereotyped individual here?"
Cohen also writes, "...It (Ferguson) does, though, conform to the very keen feelings of people who see white racism everywhere."
Near the end of his piece, the author writes the following:
"We live in a time where facts that do not fit an ideology or grievance are merely disregarded - or alternative ones concocted: Do you think campus rape is a problem not taken seriously? Then pillory the accused, deprive them of basic rights, say your critics are blaming the victim - and fling the dross of questionable statistics into the air.
Do you think black men are casually killed by the police? Then concoct a statistic, as Arlene Eisen has done, and watch with satisfaction as it goes viral. The widely used "#every28hours" hashtag turns out to be a hash of statistics and hunches, all of it infused by leftist cant about 'the national security state' and the 'perpetual war on black people.'
Do you think that the African American men who are killed by the police are solely victims of racism? If so, then ignore that, in 2013, about 44 percent of the nation's murder victims were black - and some 90 percent of those victims were killed by black people. There is a problem here, and it does not go away by yelling, 'Racist, Racist' at the numbers..."
This isn't the first time Cohen has faced backlash with regard to his views and commentary on race. In a 1986 column, Cohen "sided with city jewelry store owners who refuse to allow young black men to enter their shops because of a fear of crime."
The Washington Post apologized for this article, and in an interview with Politico's Dylan Byers, Cohen attempted to elaborate on the matter, saying, "I didn't say 'black men,' I said 'young black men who were dressed in a certain way." (the article actually didn't mention anything about the "young black men's" attire)
He also said this in the interview with Byers:
"What I'm trying to deal with is, I'm trying to remove this fear from racism. I don't think it's racism to say, 'this person looks like a menace.' Now, a menace in another part of the country could be a white guy wearing a wife-beater under-shirt. Or, if you're a black guy in the South and you come around the corner and you see a member of the Ku Klux Klan."
In the summer of 2013, Cohen wrote a column, entitled, "Racism vs. reality," where he started his piece by saying, "I don't like what George Zimmerman did, and I hate that Trayvon Martin is dead. But I also can understand why Zimmerman was suspicious and why he thought Martin was wearing a uniform we all recognize (a hoodie)."
Then toward the end of 2013, Richard Cohen commented about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his interracial marriage, by writing this:
"...People with conventional views must repress a gag reflex when considering the mayor-elect of New York - a white man married to a black woman and with two biracial children. (Should I mention that Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, used to be a lesbian?) This family represents the cultural changes that have enveloped parts - but not all - of America. To cultural conservatives, this doesn't look like their country at all."
Lastly, in another column published in the latter part of 2013, Cohen commented on the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave by saying this:
"Steve McQueen's stunning movie '12 Years a Slave' is one of those unlearning experiences. I had to wonder why I could not recall another time when I was so shockingly confronted by the sheer barbarity of American slavery. Instead, beginning with school, I got a gauzy version. I learned that slavery was wrong, yes, that it was evil, no doubt, but really, that many blacks were sort of content. Slave owners were mostly nice people - fellow Americans, after all - and the sadistic Simon Legree was the concoction of that demented propagandist, Harriet Beecher Stowe..."
I find it fascinating that Richard Cohen, while adamantly denying that he himself is a racist, appears to insinuate that racism is inevitable wherever one travels, so instead of trying to fight it, we should just learn to live with it. Also, instead of being offended by racists' commentary and actions, we should try and be more understanding of them. Yes, this is probably one of the number one signs that a person is a racist - they spend a great deal of time defending the rationale of racists.
Justin Goldstein: "It's so sad what happened to that kid the other day."
Richard Cohen: "What kid?"
Justin: "You know, that black kid that got shot and killed because he supposedly looked suspicious, but it turns out, was unarmed and just wanting to go to the store to get some Skittles and Dr. Pepper..."
Richard: "Well, yeah, it's sad and all, but you can't really blame the guy for thinking he looked suspicious."
Justin: "How'd he look suspicious?"
Richard: "That damn hoodie and his hands in his pockets! I mean, come on! Let's get real here!"
Justin: "It was 20 degrees outside!"
Richard: "So what?"
Justin: "It's April!"
Richard: "Whatever... I saw what I saw, okay? ...and even though it's sad what happened to the kid, I can completely understand the guy thinking he looked like trouble."
Justin: "Whoa... I didn't realize you were so racist!"
Richard: "Oh, shut-up! I'm not racist! The guy just looked suspicious, that's all!"
Justin: "...and why is this?"
Richard: "I told you - the hoodie and his hands in his pockets, and what about those baggy pants? Jesus, do I have to spell it out for you people?"
Justin: "'You' people?"
Richard: "Yeah, you heard me right!"
Justin: "So, let me get this straight - you're not racist even though you can understand a guy shooting and killing a black kid in a hoodie because of how he looked; is that right?"
Richard: "Yeah, now you're thinking!"
Justin: "At least one of us is..."
I also find it funny that Richard Cohen, for as much as he claims to care about "facts," appears to pick and choose his and ignore others in order to fit his narrative. He seems to take the approach that white racism against blacks is no different (nor greater) than black racism against whites and most all of blacks' problems start and end with themselves, pointing to the statistic that 90% of black murder victims were murdered by other blacks. Of course, Cohen doesn't point out the statistic which showcases that around 90% of white murder victims were murdered by whites, but of course, that number is apparently irrelevant.
Not only that, but the centerpiece of Cohen's latest writing, in comparing Ferguson to Benghazi, falls flat on its face without a great deal of effort. While conservatives may have gotten some (most) of their facts wrong regarding Benghazi and liberals may have gotten some of their facts wrong regarding Ferguson, there isn't a seemingly growing trend, with evidence to back it, of so-called Benghazigates; there is, however, that growing trend, with evidence to back it, of minorities becoming victims of police brutality due to the color of their skin.
No, Mr. Cohen, the problems won't go away by just yelling, "Racist, Racist," but then again, the problems will be even less likely to go away if one doesn't admit there's a problem at all.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ferguson-and-benghazis-troubling-parallels/2015/03/23/5812b468-d17a-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/24/richard_cohens_latest_racial_disgrace_hack_calls_ferguson_the_liberal_benghazi/
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/07/a-conversation-with-richard-cohen-168462.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-racism-vs-reality/2013/07/15/4f419eb6-ed7a-11e2-a1f9-ea873b7e0424_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-christies-tea-party-problem/2013/11/11/a1ffaa9c-4b05-11e3-ac54-aa84301ced81_story.html?hpid=z2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-12-years-a-slave-and-arts-commentary-on-the-past/2013/11/04/f0e57a92-4588-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html
Cohen starts his piece with, "Ferguson has become the liberal Benghazi. It is more of a cause than a place, more of an ideological statement than an incident..."
Another "interesting" quote from Cohen's article is when he said this: "...Let me offer another conclusion: If (Michael) Brown was not criminally shot because he was black, then possibly the cop was accused because he was white. Who was the stereotyped individual here?"
Cohen also writes, "...It (Ferguson) does, though, conform to the very keen feelings of people who see white racism everywhere."
Near the end of his piece, the author writes the following:
"We live in a time where facts that do not fit an ideology or grievance are merely disregarded - or alternative ones concocted: Do you think campus rape is a problem not taken seriously? Then pillory the accused, deprive them of basic rights, say your critics are blaming the victim - and fling the dross of questionable statistics into the air.
Do you think black men are casually killed by the police? Then concoct a statistic, as Arlene Eisen has done, and watch with satisfaction as it goes viral. The widely used "#every28hours" hashtag turns out to be a hash of statistics and hunches, all of it infused by leftist cant about 'the national security state' and the 'perpetual war on black people.'
Do you think that the African American men who are killed by the police are solely victims of racism? If so, then ignore that, in 2013, about 44 percent of the nation's murder victims were black - and some 90 percent of those victims were killed by black people. There is a problem here, and it does not go away by yelling, 'Racist, Racist' at the numbers..."
This isn't the first time Cohen has faced backlash with regard to his views and commentary on race. In a 1986 column, Cohen "sided with city jewelry store owners who refuse to allow young black men to enter their shops because of a fear of crime."
The Washington Post apologized for this article, and in an interview with Politico's Dylan Byers, Cohen attempted to elaborate on the matter, saying, "I didn't say 'black men,' I said 'young black men who were dressed in a certain way." (the article actually didn't mention anything about the "young black men's" attire)
He also said this in the interview with Byers:
"What I'm trying to deal with is, I'm trying to remove this fear from racism. I don't think it's racism to say, 'this person looks like a menace.' Now, a menace in another part of the country could be a white guy wearing a wife-beater under-shirt. Or, if you're a black guy in the South and you come around the corner and you see a member of the Ku Klux Klan."
In the summer of 2013, Cohen wrote a column, entitled, "Racism vs. reality," where he started his piece by saying, "I don't like what George Zimmerman did, and I hate that Trayvon Martin is dead. But I also can understand why Zimmerman was suspicious and why he thought Martin was wearing a uniform we all recognize (a hoodie)."
Then toward the end of 2013, Richard Cohen commented about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his interracial marriage, by writing this:
"...People with conventional views must repress a gag reflex when considering the mayor-elect of New York - a white man married to a black woman and with two biracial children. (Should I mention that Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, used to be a lesbian?) This family represents the cultural changes that have enveloped parts - but not all - of America. To cultural conservatives, this doesn't look like their country at all."
Lastly, in another column published in the latter part of 2013, Cohen commented on the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave by saying this:
"Steve McQueen's stunning movie '12 Years a Slave' is one of those unlearning experiences. I had to wonder why I could not recall another time when I was so shockingly confronted by the sheer barbarity of American slavery. Instead, beginning with school, I got a gauzy version. I learned that slavery was wrong, yes, that it was evil, no doubt, but really, that many blacks were sort of content. Slave owners were mostly nice people - fellow Americans, after all - and the sadistic Simon Legree was the concoction of that demented propagandist, Harriet Beecher Stowe..."
I find it fascinating that Richard Cohen, while adamantly denying that he himself is a racist, appears to insinuate that racism is inevitable wherever one travels, so instead of trying to fight it, we should just learn to live with it. Also, instead of being offended by racists' commentary and actions, we should try and be more understanding of them. Yes, this is probably one of the number one signs that a person is a racist - they spend a great deal of time defending the rationale of racists.
Justin Goldstein: "It's so sad what happened to that kid the other day."
Richard Cohen: "What kid?"
Justin: "You know, that black kid that got shot and killed because he supposedly looked suspicious, but it turns out, was unarmed and just wanting to go to the store to get some Skittles and Dr. Pepper..."
Richard: "Well, yeah, it's sad and all, but you can't really blame the guy for thinking he looked suspicious."
Justin: "How'd he look suspicious?"
Richard: "That damn hoodie and his hands in his pockets! I mean, come on! Let's get real here!"
Justin: "It was 20 degrees outside!"
Richard: "So what?"
Justin: "It's April!"
Richard: "Whatever... I saw what I saw, okay? ...and even though it's sad what happened to the kid, I can completely understand the guy thinking he looked like trouble."
Justin: "Whoa... I didn't realize you were so racist!"
Richard: "Oh, shut-up! I'm not racist! The guy just looked suspicious, that's all!"
Justin: "...and why is this?"
Richard: "I told you - the hoodie and his hands in his pockets, and what about those baggy pants? Jesus, do I have to spell it out for you people?"
Justin: "'You' people?"
Richard: "Yeah, you heard me right!"
Justin: "So, let me get this straight - you're not racist even though you can understand a guy shooting and killing a black kid in a hoodie because of how he looked; is that right?"
Richard: "Yeah, now you're thinking!"
Justin: "At least one of us is..."
I also find it funny that Richard Cohen, for as much as he claims to care about "facts," appears to pick and choose his and ignore others in order to fit his narrative. He seems to take the approach that white racism against blacks is no different (nor greater) than black racism against whites and most all of blacks' problems start and end with themselves, pointing to the statistic that 90% of black murder victims were murdered by other blacks. Of course, Cohen doesn't point out the statistic which showcases that around 90% of white murder victims were murdered by whites, but of course, that number is apparently irrelevant.
Not only that, but the centerpiece of Cohen's latest writing, in comparing Ferguson to Benghazi, falls flat on its face without a great deal of effort. While conservatives may have gotten some (most) of their facts wrong regarding Benghazi and liberals may have gotten some of their facts wrong regarding Ferguson, there isn't a seemingly growing trend, with evidence to back it, of so-called Benghazigates; there is, however, that growing trend, with evidence to back it, of minorities becoming victims of police brutality due to the color of their skin.
No, Mr. Cohen, the problems won't go away by just yelling, "Racist, Racist," but then again, the problems will be even less likely to go away if one doesn't admit there's a problem at all.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ferguson-and-benghazis-troubling-parallels/2015/03/23/5812b468-d17a-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/24/richard_cohens_latest_racial_disgrace_hack_calls_ferguson_the_liberal_benghazi/
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/07/a-conversation-with-richard-cohen-168462.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-racism-vs-reality/2013/07/15/4f419eb6-ed7a-11e2-a1f9-ea873b7e0424_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-christies-tea-party-problem/2013/11/11/a1ffaa9c-4b05-11e3-ac54-aa84301ced81_story.html?hpid=z2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-12-years-a-slave-and-arts-commentary-on-the-past/2013/11/04/f0e57a92-4588-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html
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