Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom

日本人の「教養」のデフォルトには、「外国語」もインストールされていません。　「宗教」同様、ユーザー個人個人が、オプションで自分自身にインストールする必要があります。　ただ、「宗教」と違って、義務教育で「英語」を学んでいます。　学んだけれど、インストールされていない。　たいてい、インストールが完了する前に、コンピューターの電源を切ってしまっただけです。　恐れなければいいのです。　英語の本の売り場に行く。　目に付いた本を手に取ってみる。　開いてみる。　眺めてみる。　ここまできたら、読んでみようかと思えます。　家に連れて帰ります。　学校の試験ではないのですから、分からない部分は読み飛ばせばいい。　辞書なんか、使わなくて大丈夫。　気づいたら、最後のページにたどり着いていることでしょう。　この本は、『アメリカ映画とキリスト教/120年の関係史』　（木谷佳楠/キリスト新聞社）　http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4873957109/anweb-22　の「参考文献」に載っていました。　英語は難しくありません。　いえ、恐れていないので、難しく感じないのです。　この本には、勇気をくれる言葉が、ぎっしりと詰まっています。　I am in no way　optimistic,　but I remain a prisoner　of hope.　　　　　(p.41)　　Be honest. Put on your three-piece suit if you want to,　but that's not armor against death.(p.28)

I am willing to struggle against all forms of racism until the day I die.The book is compact like a gift book. However, it is filled to the brim with Cornel West's philosophies and experiences. Whenever I would pick up this book, my body would fully relax. I knew the words would take me to the inner side of myself. At times I disagreed with Dr. West. For example, when he spoke of the Blues as a hopeful type of music. I've always thought the Blues sad. However, I have to admit not listening to much Blues. I am anxious to listen to it with the author's thoughts in mind. Perhaps, the Blues is hopeful. From music like Hip Hop and Jazz and other types of music he shares his opinions. One other thought of his amazed me. He believes music is more powerful than literature. However, he quoted from literature more than he did music. He wrote or quoted Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neil, etc.I agree music speaks to every man in a unique way. I would hope though that future children would be led to think of literature as more important than music. I believe it's much easier for "our folk" to get in touch with music than for a young person to sit down and read The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers or Othello by Shakespeare. I feel that literature lasts a lifetime. As we change literature changes with us; However, music is here and gone tomorrow. What's hot today might easily be forgotten for what's hot the next day. Of course, that is very sad because musicians work very hard to touch the core of our souls.Just as I disagreed with him on those points there were far more which led me down a path of enlightenment. I would nod my head for a familiar idea or a long pause for a new idea he gathered and weaved in understandable language. His thoughts about love and service and what to think or how to think of your roots no matter whether you're Black, Irish, Russian, Polish were breathtaking. I applaud him for the love of his people, us, the Black people around him. It's important to help each other in this struggle against racism, povery and miseducation.I have heard about his disagreements with President Barack O'bama. When the book was written, Barack Obama had not been elected yet. Dr. Cornel West clearly says he voted for our now President Barack O'bama. He also fully describes the areas in which he disagrees with Barack O'bama. He also clearly sheds light on his deep love for Barack O'bama. Really, I don't think there is a bone of animosity in this man. I only wish his ideas were read in schools. If I had read his book earlier in life, I would have been a servant to my people like Rosa Parks. It's impossible to read Hope on a Tightrope without being changed or becoming more noble as a person.I also discovered Cornel West is a deeply spiritual man. In other words, He is a committed Christian. He writes about Jesus' death on the cross. Then, relates Jesus' cross to the cross or suffering all Christians must carry during their walk with The Lord. His spirituality is not just for Sunday. It is an every day love practiced by the willingness to go to jail for our Black people. He is humane in all ways.The book covers family, leadership, Social justice, courage and identity and race. I have passed the book on to my husband to read. Then, I hope to pass it on to my sons. I passed on the book, The Narrative of Frederick Douglass to one of my sons. The narrative moved me that much. So to place Cornel West's book, Hope on A Tightrope beside Frederick Douglass' book tells how I feel about the book. In the end, I saw my failures as a Black woman and what to do, if I have the courage, to change those failures in to successes before I leave this earth. cornelwestIn the back of my edition of Hope on A Tightrope there is also a cd. By the way, I was thoroughly surprised how much this Princeton Professor loves music. I have to admit understanding music and being willing to listen to it and not call it noise is a way into the heart of young people.

In this edition, starting with the included CD interview of West by Tavis Smiley, West challenges us to bring ourselves to a higher level, to become the difference, to not depend on recent elections or change, but to become the change . . . instead of looking for another Martin Luther King, Jr. . . .strive for the higher level as an individual. West's challenging us to think outside of the box, doesn't allow for lazy minds. Cornell West, is himself an icon for social justice and inspires all those who read Hope on a Tightrope to join him in the journey. Hope on a Tightrope is a book where the value of the content far exceeds the monetary investment to purchase the book. Thank you Dr. West.

Unbelievably touching and down to earth, Dr. West is able to restore true love in our hearts living in a rough world. At the height of academic and philosophical excellence, Dr. West graces us with his wisdom on a variety of topics, ranging from Faith, to Family, to Music, and to Philosophy; all respectable chapters in this life-changing book.Give it a read, you will not be the least bit disappointed with his work.Then again, what's new? All his literature is fascinating and real. Plus, the book comes with an audio CD in the back with a fantastic interview between Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West.

Before I state what Hope On A Tightrope: Words and Wisdom by Dr. Cornel West is, let me begin by stating what it is not. Although this book has 12 chapters, titles ranging from Courage, Philosophy, Family to Music, Freedom and Wisdom, to name a few, this is not a book in the traditional sense; certainly not like  Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism  or  Race Matters . It reads, as the subtitle alludes, as though one is reading excerpts from Dr. West's speeches. Having seen and heard Dr. West on a number of occasions, I recognize the many Westian core concepts included in this book and it may seem all too familiar to you as well.That said, Dr. West is still an educator and a leading authority on faith, freedom and justice, particularly as it relates to the African-American community. His insights are, as usual, critical, coherent and profound. Anyone who has not had the opportunity to partake in any his words of wisdom would find this book enlightening.A couple of final thoughts: This book was released on Nov. 1st, 2008 and in it there are references to Barack Obama as a candidate for President of the United States. I believe better timing of the book's release (delaying to a later date) and having Dr. West speaking from the view point of Barack Obama winning the general election would have been worthwhile. Secondly, the companion CD which contains an interview facilitated by Tavis Smiley along with couple of musical selections from Dr. West's ventures in spoken word, seems by itself worthy of the book's retail price. The fact that the CD is included with the book is a bonus. Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against ImperialismRace Matters