from a Black businessman
A Revolutionary Meeting of Two Extraordinary Minds!!!
A revolutionary meeting of two extraordinary minds!!! Plus you get to see Bob Avakian live and in person. It’s worth it just for that. I’m interested to see what’s going to come out of this conversation.
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from Jed Stone, Criminal Defense Attorney, October 24, 2014: “I Recognize the Power and Perils of Belief”
I have struggled for years with issues of faith. As an agnostic I recognize the power and perils of belief. Bob Avakian and Cornel West are to be lauded for their efforts to bring struggle and faith together to defeat oppression and foster freedom and dignity.
“Revolution and Religion” a dialogue between West and Avakian at the historic Riverside Church, New York City, on November 15, 2014, demands our support.
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from a 71-year-old Black man from South Central Los Angeles: “Cornel West Opened My Eyes … Bob Avakian Has Gotten My Attention”
I would like to go to New York. First, because I have a lot of respect for Cornel West. I’ve heard one of his talks, at one of the big churches down on Wilshire; he was talking with Tavis Smiley. And I like what he had to say about poor people and about Obama’s non-action. I know everybody thinks he’s a messiah for Black people; and I did too when I voted for him.
Cornel opened my eyes… he brings it to reality. I’m not no great Christian, but he brings it down factual; the dirt, and the tricks, and the things this system does in America. And gives you a little humor with it.
Avakian I’ve never heard personally. I’ve gotten some of his videos. From his videos, and what I’ve read of him, he’s a… I’m not communist—but I’m not anti-communist…. He’s gotten my attention because he talks about the welfare of the people. All the people.
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from Ted Jennings—Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary, October 3, 2014: “A great occasion to explore how revolutionary Marxism and radical Christianity may find common ground in articulating the hope for transformation.”
If humanity is to survive and thrive we all know that there must be radical and fundamental change. The rule of avarice and violence is destroying the lives of myriads and indeed the very planetary basis for life. Two forces for this fundamental transformation are revolutionary Marxism and radical Christianity. The dialogue between Bob Avakian and Cornel West is a great occasion to explore how these movements may find common ground in articulating the hope for transformation and organizing to bring it about.
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from Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray—Professor, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California; Co-Founder of the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, USC: “I do look forward to the results of this Dialogue on questions of such vital importance to humanity.”
The Dialogue between Cornel West and Bob Avakian of the Revolutionary Communist Party will hold anyone of care in fascination and examination. My initial probing is to ask BA, a man of sensitivity, courage, and caring, what he explicitly means by “revolution.” I agree that we must “rise up and fight back” but feel strongly in the road of Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King. I also share both Cornel West’s and Bob Avakian’s thoughts on the need to have a face off on questions such as prison or police brutality, such as women’s struggle for equality, but the question remains: while Avakian has masterfully given description, I part ways with him on the prescription. I do look forward to the results of this Dialogue on questions of such vital importance to humanity.
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from Matthew Shipp—Musician and composer, November 6, 2014: “This is a Needed, Needed Dialogue”
This is a needed, needed dialogue—the religious impulse has been responsible for a lot of altruistic acts through the ages that have fostered compassion and hence an attempt to live a life of real social justice and meantime organized religion has also been used as a tool to brainwash and control the minds of the masses and quite frankly has been one of the most evil forces in the modern world fostering violence and intolerance to people who don’t think like them. Should be interesting to see what these two great thinkers come up with as to religion’s role in restructuring society.
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from Margarita Rosario (mother of Anthony Rosario and aunt of Hilton Vega, murdered by the New York Police Department in 1995):
Because I believe in God. A dialogue between two people who have inspired me. Bob Avakian is a revolutionist and I’m always talking about a riot. Cornel is a man of faith, so I just want to see and listen.
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