Oct. 27: Mikhail Gorbachev speaks! "Security and Environment: The Challenges of the 21st Century"

A talk by the former head of the USSR

When: Thursday 27 October, 4:00-6:00 PM

Where: DePauw University

Noter from DePauw: Mikhail Gorbachev's October 27 Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture at DePauw University will take place in the Lilly Center, 702 South College Avenue (directions), to accommodate what is expected to be a very large crowd.

Has there ever been a more noble and heroic screw-up than Mikhail Gorbachev? A genuine idealist who was handed the keys to the Evil Empire in 1985, in less than six years he lost the empire, his country broke apart, and he had a Nobel Peace Prize. Seeing Gorbachev is definitely worth a trip to Greencastle.

I am curious how kids these days think of Gorbachev, who had such an impact on the world of my generation. University of Indianapolis grad student Courtney Burkey says:

Many of us remember the dark days of the Cold War with President Reagan on one
side and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev on the other. Events such as “Star Wars”, Reagan’s strategy to reduce the threat of nuclear war and end the tactic of mutual deterrence in the early 1980s, and the declaration by the President stating that the USSR was the “Evil Empire” were constantly seeking to create a sense of security for Americans, and yet, worked to create fear in the public. During the 1980s we could not escape discussions or references to the Cold War and the supposed espionage that went on between government agencies, the CIA and KGB. Surpassing the daily news reports, merican television entertainment programs, such as, MacGyver to sitcoms, like the Golden Girls and Designing Women would chime in with political commentary on the Cold War. The Cold War finally came to end in the late 1980s, early 1990s with the signing of several treaties beginning with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in 1987. This treaty eliminated tactical or "battlefield" nuclear devices and GLCMs (cruise missiles) from Europe. Additionally, the Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty I (START I), signed in 1991 by George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev; reduced the numbers of U.S. and Soviet long-range missiles and nuclear warheads from 10,000 per side to 6,000 per side. At the height of the Cold War, as Reagan called upon the United States to build a space-based missile defense system to ward off potential nuclear attacks by the Soviets, Gorbachev stated, "What we need is Star Peace and not Star Wars." He also said, "We can either climb together or fall into the abyss." President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev are credited as bringing the Cold War to an end. Mr. Gorbachev is a remarkable person; he is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1990) presented for his efforts to bring about global peace, lifting the oppressive Soviet laws, and freeing Eastern Europe and Central Asia from the Soviet Communist System. In 1992, Gorbachev founded a
non-partisan, non-profit, educational foundation known as the Gorbachev Foundation or International Foundation for Socio-Economic and Political Studies. The Foundation became one of the first independent think-tanks in the post-Soviet Russia.

For background, Courtney recommends:

• Future home of Gorbachev’s Presidential Library - http://www.mikhailgorbachev.org/
  
• Gorbachev Foundation (English) - http://www.gorby.ru/en/rubrs.asp?rubr_id=302
  
• Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War
  
• Time Magazine - http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/gorbachev.html
  
• DePauw University - http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=16147
  

Part of DePauw University's Ubben Lecture Series, this is free and open to the public

Oct. 27: The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies

A talk by David Deutsch, editor of the humor magazine Heeb

When: Thursday 27 October, 7:30 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

Joshua Neuman and David Deutsch are co-authors of The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies and the editors of the alternative press publication Heeb Magazine comes a hilarious response to the endless conspiracy theorists who believe that the fault of everything bad that has happened in the world lies squarely at the feet of the Jews. Says The Village Voice: “The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies is a funny joke in the form of a sloppy book. Jews, according to the book's premise, are behind most of the major events in history, especially the catastrophic ones. The bubonic plague? Naturally. Feminism? Of course. September 11? You get the idea.” Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books

Oct. 31: Inheriting the Holy Land: An American’s Search for Hope in the Middle East

A talk with author and journalist Jennifer Miller

When: Monday, 31 October, 7:30 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

Jennifer Miller is young author of Inheriting the Holy Land. I have been impressed with her pieces in Salon.com. Say the organizers of this event:

"Writing with fierce honesty, Jennifer Miller has created an extraordinary synthesis of history, reportage, and coming-of-age memoir in Inheriting the Holy Land. Her groundbreaking perspective on the conflict is presented through interviews with young Israelis and Palestinians and conversations with some of the most influential officials involved in the Middle East, including Shimon Peres, Yasir Arafat, James Baker, Benjamin Netanyahu, Colin Powell, Ehud Barak, and Mahmoud Abbas." I think it will be a good one.

Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books and Jewish Community Relations Council

Nov. 2: Wedding Song: Memoirs of an Iranian Jewish Woman

A talk by Iranian-Jewish-American author Farideh Goldin

When: Wednesday 2 November, 7:30 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

Wedding Song: Memoirs of an Iranian Jewish Woman is an unflinching personal story of family, religion, and community that shows the horror of growing up in the shadow of religious fundamentalism. Farideh Goldin was born to her fifteen-year-old mother in 1953 and into a Jewish community living in an increasingly hostile Islamic state—pre-revolutionary Iran. This memoir is Goldin’s passionate and painful account of her childhood in a poor Jewish household and her emigration to the United States in 1975.

Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books, Hadassah, and the Royal Gallery of Rugs

Nov. 2 “Art and Culture in the Islamic World”

A lecture by Henry Glassie, professor of folklore and director of Turkish Studies at Indiana University

When: Wednesday 2 November, 7:00-9:00 PM

Where: Butler University, Clowes Hall, Krannert Room


A "Change and Tradition" convocation lecture by one of Indiana University’s finest teachers, Henry Glassie, Professor of Folklore and co-director of Turkish Studies at Indiana University. Dr. Glassie is the author of many books on art, architecture and folklore, including Turkish Traditional Art Today.

Nov. 2 -- "The Future of Public Education"

A talk by Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent of Indianapolis Publis Schools

When: Wednesday 2 November, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Where: North United Methodist Church, N. Meridian St. at 38th St. Indianapolis

No one is more important to the future of public education in Indianapolis than the new Superintendent of IPS, Dr. Eugene White. Check out the interview from last month’s NUVO for a sense of his vision. This talk will address questions such as whether public education has a future (I think he’ll say “yes”); what will be the effects of such factors as standardized testing, private and charter schools, home schooling, language barriers, broken families, and disciplinary problems. Should be a good one.

Mid-North Shepherd Center. Questions? Contact 317-924-0959 or mnscenter@aol.com

Nov. 4 Café Cinema: “Hotel Rwanda”

A viewing and discussion of the award winning film “Hotel Rwanda”

When: Friday 4 November, 7:00-9:30 PM

Where: St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Sanctuary, 100 W. 86th St. Indianapolis

See the movie Hotel Rwanda and join a stimulating facilitated discussion of its spiritual message. Later in the festival schedule, on Tues. November 8, the movie protagonist, Paul Rusesabagina, will speak in person. Experience this powerful film with others as a prelude to Rusesabagina’s talk on Tuesday evening, or plan only to enjoy the film and discussion as a stand-alone event. $3. Enter at door #6.

Presented by St. Luke's United Methodist Church and YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Questions? Call 846-3404 x339 or e-mail brandtb@stlukesumc.com.

Nov. 5 -- Jewish Mystical Tradition and Spiritual Imagination: Living in the Presence of God

Lunch discussion with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

When: Saturday 5 November, noon – 2:00 PM

Where: Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, 600 W. 70th St. Indianapolis

Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) is a tradition that has moved far from its origins to speak to a modern community of people seeking meaning. Kabbalah develops a sophisticated theory of the nature of divinity, the origins of creation, and the role of human beings in the tasks of redemption. It includes meditative and devotional practices originally taught only to a select few. Aspects of Kabbalah have been studied and used by non-Jews for several hundred years. How far can you move from the tradition and still claim to be attached to that tradition? Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, one of this year's Public Conversationalists, will talk about how we can honor traditions of the past yet adapt to modern society.

Lunch costs $10. Reservations required by Tuesday, November 1 by calling 253-3441, or writing to bez613@bez613.org.

Presented by Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center's Ann Katz Festival of Books and The Alan and Linda Cohen Center for Jewish Learning and Living at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. Questions? Call 253-3441 or e-mail bez613@bez613.org.

Nov. 5 -- Creation in Time and Eternity: Ecology and Orthodox Christianity

Lecture and discussion by Greek Orthodox theologian John Chryssavgis

When: Saturday 5 November, 1:00-4:00 PM

Where: Christian Theological Seminary, Shelton Auditorium, 1000 W. 42nd St. Indianapolis

Eastern Orthodoxy has always included the whole creation in its understanding of salvation. Author and professor John Chryssavgis, Holy Cross School of Theology in Massachusetts, will explain how to care for creation for the long haul (the stewardship that represents "staying") even while looking forward to the fulfillment of the Creation (moving beyond). After the lecture a panel will lead a lively discussion of how to find a spirituality that is rooted in a fuller understanding of creation. Chryssavgis is one of the most important Orthodox theologians in America, this should be a fascinating event.

Presented by Christian Theological Seminary, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, and Orthodox Churches of Central Indiana. Questions? Call 931-4224 or e-mail LifeEd@cts.edu.

Nov. 5: Spirit and Place Anniversary Gala

When: Saturday 5 November, 7:30 PM

Where: Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W Washington St. Indianapolis (parking here)

In celebration of the Festival’s tenth anniversary, Spirit & Place is staging its first-ever Gala event on Saturday, November 5, at Indiana Repertory Theatre, 7:30 p.m. The event will feature entertainment by Tim Grimm, locally based and nationally known singer/songwriter, actor, and hay-farmer; and Wendell Berry, nationally recognized poet. The event will be open to the public: $50, open seating; $100, preferred seating, plus private dessert reception with Wendell Berry.

For more information, keep checking the Spirit & Place website.

Nov. 6 -- Bill Clinton at Butler!

A lecture by the 42nd president in celebration of Butler University’s 150th birthday

When: Sunday 6 November, 7:30 PM

Where: Butler University, Hinkle Fieldhouse

What can be said about the 42nd President of the United States? He’s coming to Indy for a free speech. As the kids say in their text messaging, “OMG!!!”

Note that we have a chance for an all-star afternoon and evening of intellectual engagement. Start with the Public Conversation with Wendell Berry, A'Lelia Bundles, and Rabbi Kushner at 3:00 in Clowes Hall; then wander over to Atherton Union Hall with your old and new friends for a Dinner Dialogue; then stroll to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a lecture by the prodigiously gifted politician of our generation. Brain burn-out by the end of the day, but it should be worth it.

Tickets for former President Clinton’s Nov. 6 speech will be made available to the general public at 10 a.m. Oct. 10. Tickets will be distributed at the Clowes Memorial Hall box office. University officials said two tickets would be available per person. The tickets are free. Lines will begin forming at 8 a.m. at the east side entrance to Clowes Hall. Lines formed before 8 a.m. will not be honored. Absolutely no overnight camping will be allowed.

Part of Butler University's Sesquicentennial Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series

Nov. 6 -- Public Conversation Dinner Dialogue

A chance to discuss over food ideas from the Public Conversation while getting your second wind in preparation for Bill Clinton

When: Sunday 6 November, 5:00-7:00 PM

Where: Butler University, Atherton Union Building 4600 Sunset Ave. Indianapolis

For the first time, Spirit & Place will host an opportunity for those who have had their intellectual and spiritual horizons expanded by the public conversation to get together with new and old friends over dinner to discuss what they have heard. I have often wished for such a chance after Spirit & Place public conversations in years gone by, it’s a great idea. Tickets to the public conversation dinner dialogue will cost $9 and will be available at the Clowes Hall box office later in September. Check out the Spirit & Place website for details.

Nov. 6 -- A Public Conversation with Wendell Berry, A’Lelia Bundles and Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

When: Sunday 6 November, 3:00-5:00 PM

Where: Butler University, Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave. Indianapolis

This is a traditional showcase event of Spirit & Place, by turns exhilarating and aggravating, insightful and humorous. Eavesdrop on a spontaneous conversation at the Spirit & Place Public Conversation, an on-stage dialogue featuring three nationally-known speakers from the world of arts, humanities, and religion. Join Wendell Berry, one of America’s leading writers, A’Lelia Bundles, Indianapolis native and award-winning author, and Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, widely regarded as one of the most creative religion writers in America today. The three will take part in an invigorating discussion of this year’s theme, Moving & Staying, moderated by Indiana author Scott Russell Sanders. Free but tickets are required. Questions? Call 274-2455 or e-mail festival@iupui.edu.

Nov. 7: “A Reading with A’Leila Bundles”

When: Monday 7 November, 10:30 AM to noon

Where: Butler University, Robertson Hall Johnson Room, 4600 Sunset Ave.

An award-winning journalist and director of talent development for ABC News, Indianapolis native A’Lelia Bundles is the great-great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, the famous African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political activist. Bundles’s biography of Walker, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, was a New York Times Notable Book in 2001. Bundles will read selections from her work and respond to questions from an audience of community members and Butler University students, faculty, and staff.

Presented by Butler University Writer’s Studio and Spirit and Place. Questions? Call 940-9861 or e-mail nminnick@butler.edu

Nov. 7: Working Our Way Home: An Evening with Wendell Berry & Friends

Just to let folks know, all of the spaces for the meal and dialogue sessions from 5:20-7 PM are full.

However, there is still room for people wishing to attend Berry's opening poetry reading and Q & A session at 4 PM and/or the roundtable discussion with Berry and the dialogue session facilitators at 7 PM. No reservations are required for either of these portions of the evening. Both will be held in Ransburg Auditorium on the U of I campus. Another option that was not mentioned on the original posting is the screening of the film Neighborhood at the Crossroads. The film will be shown in Ober 1 & 2 of the Schwitzer Student Center starting at 4:45 PM. This award winning documentary chronicles the revitalization of the Fountain Square area in Indianapolis. The film won a regional emmy this year, and addresses many of the key issues regarding local economy and community that some of the discussion sessions will touch on.

No reservations or tickets are needed to see the film. However, the cost of the dinner is not covered. Our campus food service has many options, from an ala carte cafe with sandwiches and salads for about $3-4 to the entire food court style meal plan for $5.75.

I look forward to an engaging and stimulating evneing. Hope to see you there!

Reading by Wendell Berry; “Slow Food” dinner and discussions of the themes of Berry’s work; open conversation with Berry and others

When: Monday 7 November, 4:00-9:00 PM

Where: Ransburg Auditorium at University of Indianapolis, Lower Floor of the Schwitzer Student Center, 1400 E. Hanna Ave. Indianapolis

Wendell Berry is one of the grand institutions of America. Author of more than forty books, poet, philosopher, farmer, conversationalist … and above all else a social and ecological critic of the way we live today. Reading his book The Unsettling of America profoundly shook me a quarter of a century ago, not necessarily because I accepted his arguments but more because it awakened me to the need for social theorists to address the way real people live in their everyday lives. Think of an evening with Wendell Berry as an evening with Henry David Thoreau and try to make time to attend this event.

The event is broken into several sections. It opens (4:00 -4:45 PM) with Berry offering his reflections about what it means for contemporary city dwellers to begin "Working Our Way Home" by taking seriously the places we live and work.

There will be a short discussion (4:45-5:15 PM).

Then (5:30-6:45 PM) those who have pre-registered will participate in one of six dialogues on themes associated with Berry's writings (Local Economy; Food; Technology; War & Peace; Vocation; Education). Over a meal of Slow Food, dialogues will explore how to move from concept to action.

At 7:00 p. m. the dialogue facilitators rejoin Wendell Berry to engage him, and one another, in conversation about questions and issues generated by dialogue participants.

This all sounds like a lot of organization from people who look back fondly on hippies, but I am confident it will flow as it should.

Participation in the meal and dialogues is limited to 150 people. Participants in the six dialogue sessions and meal must pre-register. Contact Dr. Greta Pennell at 788-3365 to register for the “Slow Food” Dinner and one of the six dialogue sessions that will take place between 5:30 and 6:45 p.m.

Presented by Hoosier Environmental Council, Indianapolis Peace House, University of Indianapolis, Spirit & Place. Questions? Call 317-788-3233 or e-mail mcartwright@uindy.edu.

Nov. 8: Hotel Rwanda: An Evening with Paul Rusesabagina

Discussion with the protagonist of the film Hotel Rwanda

When: Tuesday 8 November, 7:00-9:00 PM

Where: St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Sanctuary, 100 W. 86th St. Indianapolis

For two months Paul Rusesabagina held insanity at bay as he watched his country fall into the grips of genocide in 1994. A manager of a luxury hotel in Rwanda, he sheltered over 1,200 people, including his wife and children, as extremists massacred more than 800,000 people in just 100 days. His wrenching story is chronicled in the critically acclaimed film, Hotel Rwanda. Mr. Rusesabagina will tell his emotionally stirring story first hand - addressing what it means to move or stay—in one’s community, one’s family, and one's culture. Admission fee $5.

Presented by St. Luke's United Methodist Church and YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Questions? Call 713-8541 or e-mail dhurles@indymca.org.

Nov. 8 -- "Jewish Food: The World at Table"

Matthew Goodman discusses his book and offers samples of some of the foods featured

When: Tuesday 8 November, 7:30-9:00 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

For centuries Jewish communities around the world forged dynamic cuisines from ancient traditions combined with the bounties—and limitations—of their adopted homelands. In this important new collection, Jewish Food: The World at Table, Matthew Goodman has assembled more than 170 recipes from twenty-nine countries, handed down through the generations and now preserved in this historic volume.

Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books

Nov. 8: "Where have all the farmers gone"

Discussion of the social implications of the way we acquire our food … and a taste of how we can do better

When: Tuesday 8 November, 7:00-9:00 PM

Where: Center for Agricultural Science and Heritage ("The Barn"), 1201 E. 38th St. Indianapolis

The “Slow Food” movement that arose in the 1990s has spread from Italy, across Europe, into the US and Indiana. Not a moment too soon, many say. “Slow Food” seeks to preserve traditional dishes, to support natural farming practices, and to restore a slower pace of eating as a reaffirmation of family and community. It has a political cast as well: it sees corporate agri-business increasingly crowding out the small farmers who proponents of “Slow Food” ought to be a basic component of a healthy society. Make sense? You have a great chance to check out the philosophy and flavor of Slow Food Indy, the local outpost of this global movement. Say the organizers of this presentation:

Small farms are our most careful and productive growers. If they all 'moved on' wouldn't we starve or become completely dependent on corporate control of food? Don't we want them to stay? In fact, there are fewer small farms each year. Why? Consider: If you were underpaid, accorded low status and discouraged from producing wholesome products, or acting as a careful land steward against your wishes and by forces beyond your control—would you stay? In the face of great difficulties some do stay (and others newly join). Why? How can we, as consumers help or hinder them? Come learn more with a panel of small producers, hosted by Slow Food Indy. Also featured is a sampling of the food grown by small farmers. Donations requested.

Presented by Center for Agricultural Science and Heritage and Slow Food Indy. Questions? Call 255-7628 or e-mail sandertales@aol.com.

Nov. 9 -- "Health Care Reform: Current Prognosis"

A discussion with Matthew Gutwein, President and CEO of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County

When: Wednesday 9 November, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM

Where: North United Methodist Church, N. Meridian St. at 38th St. Indianapolis

An outspoken critic of the current healthcare system addresses the challenges to reforming healthcare in Indianapolis.

Part of the Mid-North Shepherd Center's "Domestic Decisions 2005" series. Questions? Contact 317-924-0959 or mnscenter@aol.com

Nov. 9 -- Women in the Professions: Who Moves, Who Stays, and Why Some of Us Choose to Stay Home

Breakfast roundtable workshop

When: Wednesday 9 November, 8:30-10:00 AM

Where: IUPUI University Library, 755 W. Michigan St. Indianapolis

Join a breakfast roundtable workshop led by women who chose professional careers, women who chose to stay at home, and women who combined a profession with periods of staying at home. The workshop will offer opportunities for leaders and participants to share their stories and interact with each other about their choices, their experiences, and the consequences of their decisions. Participants will be invited to write their stories, anonymously if they wish, for a booklet to be distributed to participants in this and other events in a semester long celebration of "Women in the Professions: An Exploration of Choice and Challenge."

Signs at entrances will direct participants to the breakfast. Workshop/breakfast is free but parking in North Garage is approximately $3.00. Space is limited; registration is required. Register by November 4 by calling 317-278-2322.

Presented by IUPUI Office for Women, IUPUI University Library, Ruth Lilly Medical Library, and Society of Women Engineers. Questions? Call 278-2322 or e-mail kpsorrel@iupui.edu.

Nov. 9: Moving and Staying in a Global Indy

Panel discussion of the intersection between global and local featuring various community leaders

When: Wednesday 9 November, 7:00-9:00 PM

Where: Marian College, Bishop Chartrand Memorial Chapel, 3200 Cold Spring Rd. Indianapolis

Regardless of where we come from or how long we’ve been here, we all are members of an increasingly large, diverse, and global city. How can we move toward a more holistic and interconnected city, reduce alienation (among both newcomers and old-timers), and increase cooperation, trust, and mutual respect? A diverse community panel and interactive audience discussion will provide opportunities for airing questions and concerns and for networking and information sharing.

· Miriam Acevedo Davis, executive director of La Plaza, Inc.
· Shola Ajiboye, Director, The African Center
· Dr. James Divita, the leading expert on historical patterns of immigration in Indianapolis
· Dr. James P. Fadely, President, Indianapolis Branch of the English Speaking Union
· Dr. Ahmet Fer, Vice President, Nationalities Council of Indiana
· June Kiyomoto, Executive Director, Asian-American Alliance
· Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, Secretary General, Islamic Society of North America
· Dr. Pierre M. Atlas, Director, Franciscan Center for Global Studies (Discussion Facilitator)

Presented by the Franciscan Center for Global Studies at Marian College, the International Center of Indianapolis, Nationalities Council of Indiana, and Sagamore Institute for Policy Research. Questions? Call 955-6213 or e-mail afagan@marian.edu.

REGISTER NOW

Nov. 9: The Diaspora and the Homecoming

Musical performance by Indyklez, dance interpretation by Jordan Dance Ensemble, plus interpretations and stories!

When: Wednesday 9 November, 7:00-9:00 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

This evening should be fun, interesting, and important. The Jewish Diaspora ("dispersing" from the Promised Land) is an ancient and modern story of "Moving and Staying," reflected here in musical perspective. Indyklez plays traditional East European/Jewish folk music. You’re surely familiar with the sound of klezmer groups. Much more diverse and complex music than the simple group composition — violin, clarinet, accordion, guitar, bass, drums, and male vocalist— might lead you to think. This program of Eastern European, Russian, Sephardic, Israeli, and liturgical music will be interspersed with narration, storytelling, and interpretations of the music by the Jordan Dance Ensemble. Joining Indyklez will be Rabbi Sandy E. Sasso and Cantor Giora Sharon of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. On this anniversary of Kristallnacht, which began the tragic events of the Holocaust, celebrate the survival of the Jewish people, their culture, and their songs. Free will offering, donations accepted.

If you’d like a flavor of Indyklez’s music, check out their website at www.indyklez.com, where they have several samples of songs posted. Listen, for instance to their version of the classic “Odessa Bulgar.” For a nice contrast, compare this to the ska-influenced NY klezmer group, Klezska! (Indyklez is a very good band, but if someone wants to invite Klezska! to Indianapolis, I will be a happy guy.)

Indyklez – “Odessa Bulgar”
Klezska! – “Odessa Bulgar”

Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books, Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, INDYKLEZ, Jordan College Academy of Dance, and The Jewish Community Center of Indianapolis. Questions? Call 849-4620 or e-mail glwomack@juno.com

Nov. 10: Skirting the Issue -- Stories of Indiana’s Historical Women Artists

Presentation by Judith Vale Newton and Carol Ann Weiss, authors of Skirting the Issue -- Stories of Indiana’s Historical Women Artists, followed by a panel discussion (including a discussion of Indiana Jewish women artists whose work is on display in the JCC's Arts Lobby)

When: Thursday 10 November, 2:30-4:00 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

According to the ethos of the late 1800s and early 1900s, a woman’s natural destiny was to be a wife, mother, and guardian of the virtues of hearth and home. Some women wanted more, however, and despite cultural expectations chose to explore their creativity and seek training in art. While this first-of-a-kind book focuses on Indiana women specifically, its stories offer excellent insights into the culture and values of the greater Midwest—and the nation at large—in the decades before and after the turn of the twentieth century. Skirting the Issue includes more than two hundred images, including full-color reproductions of artworks and black-and-white photographs of the artists themselves.

Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books

Nov. 10: "'As Fast As Circumstances Should Permit': Abraham Lincoln's Move Toward Equality"

Lecture by Dr. Gerald Prokopowicz, former Lincoln Scholar and Director of Public Programs at the Lincoln Museum in Ft. Wayne

When: Thursday 10 November, 7:00-8:00 PM

Where: Indiana History Center, Basile Theater, 450 W. Ohio St. Free parking in the lot at the corner of New York and West Streets.

Is Abraham Lincoln really the Great Emancipator? Recent critics have argued Lincoln was reluctant to abolish slavery and only issued the Emancipation Proclamation as a means to further the interests of white Americans. What were Lincoln's political, military, and humanitarian reasons behind the Emancipation Proclamation? Dr. Prokopowicz, one of the country’s leading Lincoln specialists, will discuss the complexity of these issues and how Lincoln's move toward equality forever changed American race relations. Time for Q&A will be allotted after the lecture.

Presented by Abraham Lincoln Association of Indiana and Indiana Historical Society. Questions? Call 232-1878 or e-mail cwood@indianahistory.org.

Nov. 10 -- Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, 1905 and 2005: Waltzing at the Edge of the Abyss

Performance by the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble and discussion by John Clark

When: Thursday 10 November, 7:00-8:30 PM

Where: Meridian Music Company, Recital Hall, 12725 Old Meridian St. Carmel, IN

Although I would hate to disagree with KP Singh, this could be the most enjoyable event of the Spirit & Place Festival. At any rate, it will be the most fun for me. Last year Sagamore Institute did a joint even with Indianapolis Opera, a mixed discussion and performance of the opera version of Arthur Miller's "Crucible." We policy wonks don't get to hang out in the world of high culture as often as we should, and the event was a real treat. This discussion and performance of "Merry Widow" should be even better. I've been fascinated with Lehár's Vienna since reading Robert Musil's Man without Qualities and Carl Schorske's Fin de Siècle Vienna. I feel fortunate to get to explore this fascinating world further.

How does a work of art, a unique product of a specific time and place, manage to transcend its roots, to move audiences across decades and cultures? Consider Franz Lehár’s timeless Merry Widow, perhaps the lightest of all light operas. Featuring a beautiful and wealthy young widow from the fictional Balkan statelet of Pontevedria who sets the fortune-hunters’ hearts aflutter, an ambassador’s wife whose flirtation with a handsome count threatens more than her marriage, gorgeous costumes and sumptuous sets, sensuous love songs and saucy cabaret number … The Merry Widow seems to possess no more substance than the bubbles in the champagne lubricating every scene. Perhaps it touches us today because it so perfectly captures the very essence of Vienna in 1905.

Yet even as Lehár was writing The Merry Widow, this enchanting Vienna was dying. Not long after the operetta's premiere the Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, in the real world neighborhood of Lehár’s Pontevedria, unleashing World War I and sending the Hapsburg Empire tumbling. (Only a few years ago we experienced the return of war to the real world Balkans.) Perhaps the Merry Widow’s audiences in Vienna knew they were waltzing at the edge of the abyss: just two blocks away from where Lehár composed such weightless and effervescent arias, Sigmund Freud was exploring the most dangerous corners of the human psyche. Perhaps something deeper and darker moves The Merry Widow beyond its Viennese roots. Perhaps we cherish the loveliness of the waltz today because we don’t want to think about our own abysses.
This event will explore the deeper side of Lehár’s Merry Widow, both in 1905 and 2005. Members of the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble will perform selections form the opera, while John Clark of the Sagamore Institute will discuss the work’s Hapsburg roots and the ways it moves us in a very different century and world. The Merry Widow will be performed on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 8pm and Sunday, November 20, 2005 at 2pm.

Nov. 11: “Becoming a Peacemaker”

Approaching peace from an end of the universe opposite from an international think tank

When: Friday 11 November, 7:00-10:00 PM

Where: Unity Church, 907 N. Delaware Indianapolis

I am pretty sure that the good people at the School of Metaphysics are looking for the same thing we think-tankers at Sagamore Institute are seeking … peace. But it is hard to imagine a more different approach! If you are dissatisfied with current approaches to securing international peace and domestic enlightenment (and you have reason to be dissatisfied), you might want to check this event out. Say the organizers:

“People around the world yearn for peace, yet few know how to make peace in times of trouble. This program offers five keys for making peace—Ideals, Love, Friendship, Respect, and Service. The key concepts are drawn from the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Nobel Peace Prize winners Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter, and Albert Schweitzer. Learn about the keys, enjoy a discussion that helps you clarify your own thoughts, and write about friendship. Then crystallize your thoughts into a single statement to share with each other in a friendship circle, culminating in a ritual called a “Circle of Love,” giving light and love to one another, the community, and the universe. Donations accepted.”

Presented by School of Metaphysics. Questions? Call 251-5285 or e-mail amypawlus@aol.com or somindianapolis@yahoo.com.

Nov. 12: "At Home through Learning and Sharing"

Getting to know the Sikh community through food and fun

When: Saturday 12 November, 2:00-4:00 PM

Where: The Sikh Temple, 10950 Southeastern Ave. Indianapolis

Whether or not you know the Sikh community, you should make sure you attend this event. KP Singh has assured me that this will be the finest event of the Spirit & Place Festival, and I have never known KP to be wrong.

“At Home through Learning and Sharing,” highlights the things a family or community needs to find a place, nurture its spirit, and move forward. Finding a place we’re comfortable staying may include: creating familiar physical, emotional, and cultural anchors and developing opportunities, rights, and responsibilities, a healthy environment, good neighbors and friends, and a sense of belonging. The program, with a special focus on youth, will feature colorful dances, fun enactments, and sacred music; an educational video presentation and panel discussion; hands-on experiences and audience participation; and the sharing of ethnic and favorite refreshments. This family-friendly event is a wonderful opportunity to move into a new experience and stay to make new friends. Donations accepted.

Presented by Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis and Acton United Methodist Church. Questions? Call 710-5433 or e-mail cmlighthouse@aol.com

Nov. 13: Sacred Circles, Public Squares

A discussion by Art Farnsley and religious leaders and scholars

When: Sunday 13 November, 2:00-4:00 PM

Where: Glendale Library, Auditorium, 6101 N. Keystone Ave. Park in lower south parking lot facing Keystone Avenue. Take elevator to 3rd floor to the library.

Art Farnsley is author of Sacred Circles, Public Squares, a 2005 book about religion and community in Indianapolis. Art will discuss the ever-evolving, religious landscape of the city, joined by a panel of religious leaders and scholars. The program aims to understand religion’s changing role in public life. Panelists will discuss issues such as how religion contributes to the creation of social capital in Indianapolis, how faith-based welfare reform works—or doesn't work—in the city, and how religion helps create community in the metropolitan areas many urban, suburban, and ex-urban neighborhoods.

The all-star panel will include:

Bill Stanczykiewicz
Sheila Suess Kennedy
Dr. James J. Divita
Rev. Richard E. Hamilton
Rev. John L. Lambert

Presented by Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. Questions? Call 275-4022 or e-mail ncbarnes@imcpl.org. To register call 275-4085.

Nov. 13: The Crossroads Ensemble in Concert

A performance of Jewish music by one of the world's leading ensembles

When: Sunday 13 November, 2:00-3:30 PM

Where: Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, Sanctuary, 6501 North Meridian St.

The music of Crossroads Ensemble traverses boundaries between secular and sacred and reflects the various cultures in which its members have lived. Latin rhythms, Israeli and Sephardic (Spanish/Jewish) folk songs, and Jazz elements contribute to make a world-music crossover project. Music has incredible power to move the listener emotionally, while staying in his or her seat. Concertgoers will hear proficient musicians sharing their talents as well as the varieties of Jewish culture. The music of Crossroads will touch the memories of some hearers and inspire others to renew their acquaintance with music of their ancestry.

These guys are good. Check out their sounds at www.crossroadsensemble.com. They bring a syncretic approach to their music, reflecting perhaps that members come from Latin America as well as the US and Israel. It should be an excellent evening.

Sponsored by Butler University Hillel, Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation, and Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. Questions? Call 255-6647, ext. 208 or e-mail janicer@ihcindy.org.

Nov. 13: "Israelis and Palestinians: Living in Peace as Neighbors"

When: Sunday 13 November, 2:30-8:30 PM

Where: North United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, N. Meridian St. at 38th St. Park behind church entering either from N. Meridian St. or from N. Illinois.

Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live secure and in peace. Sadly, this has not been realized. But there are people on both sides who want the madness to stop. This program will present videos, speakers in dialogue with the audience, and peaceful conversation around the dinner table, all done, say the organizers, in search of the way to peace with fairness and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.

This event will feature a prominent peace activist, Jeff Halper, coordinator of the Israeli Committee against Housing Demolitions (ICAHD). Halper is, to put it mildly, controversial in Jewish circles, on the far edges of the Israeli Left: for a flavor of his views, see this article and this interview; for a flavor of the passion he inspires in his enemies, see this. This event will be an opportunity to hear the side of the extreme side of the Israeli peace movement; for a more critical engagement with Halper’s positions, I am organizing an event at Sagamore Institute … stay tuned for details.

Christians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. Questions? Call 638-0152 or e-mail gacaday@sbcglobal.net. Registration including dinner: $13.00; Registration without dinner: $3.00. Dinner registrations should be made by November 10th. Advance registrations should be sent to CPJME V-Chair, 4436 N. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, IN 46131. Make checks payable to CPJME. Limited reservations can be made at the door on November 13.

Nov. 15: Staying at the Heart of Belief, Moving Toward One Another in Openness—An Interfaith Peace-Prayer Service

When: Tuesday 15 November7:30-8:30 PM

Where: Carmelite Monastery, Chapel, 2500 Cold Spring Rd.

Say the organizers of this event, sponsored by Spirit and Place: “In praying with others for peace, we can each become a tiny beacon of hope and light in the strife-ridden world to which we all belong. The aim of an interfaith service is to create respect and mutual reverence for the dignity, integrity, and sincerity of all persons in their approach to God. For every religious tradition “staying” is an interior moment, a fidelity to its understanding of truth, goodness, compassion and unconditional love of God and neighbor. From this point we can move toward one another in openness, service, and life-affirming cooperation.”

Sponsored by: Carmelites of Indianapolis and Marian College Chamber Ensemble. Questions? Call 926-5654 or e-mail linda@praythenews.com

Nov. 16: Indiana Higher Education in a Flat World

A discussion by John Clark, Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research

When: Wednesday 16 November, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Where: North United Methodist Church, N. Meridian St. at 38th St.

Few books have been as widely discussed as Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat. (He even has a chapter called “India versus Indiana: Who is Exploiting Whom?”) This discussion will explore some of the implications of Friedman’s fearful celebration of the dizzying growth of globalization in the past few years. In a world in which borders and boundaries are being diminished by technology, politics, and economics, the graduates of Indiana colleges and universities find themselves competing against the best and brightest and most ambitious from India, China, from around the world. How can we hope to survive such a fierce and unbounded competition? Or if our colleges try to prepare graduates for ferocious global competition, might we lose sight of higher education’s role in developing well-rounded citizens? I think we can prosper by seeing opportunities to collaborate rather than only compete, but it will require some very difficult changes for colleges, for students, and for Indiana society.

Since this is the final session of the Mid-North Shepherd's Center's "Domestic decisions 2005" series, I will try to tie together the themes and controversies of the previous six weeks.

Questions? Contact 317-924-0959 or mnscenter@aol.com

Nov. 16: Breaking Ground -- Adventures in Life and Architecture

A discussion with architect Daniel Libeskind

When: Wednesday 16 October, 7:30-9:30 PM

Where: Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis

Winner of the Master Plan Design for the World Trade Center site, Daniel Libeskind is one of the world’s most admired and most controversial architects. The renowned architect introduces his iconoclastic approach to public space and shares his vision for the most important architectural project of our time, the 1776 Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site. Drawing on his uncommon background and global perspective, in Breaking Ground Daniel Libeskind explores ideas about tragedy and hope, and the way in which architecture can memorialize-and reshape-human experience.

Sponsored by the Ann Katz Festival of Books

Nov. 16: Twenty Years of Interfaith in Indianapolis

When: Wednesday 16 November, 6:45-9:30 PM

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, Sanctuary/Social Hall, 615 W. 43rd St. Indianapolis

Interfaith Alliance Indianapolis (IAI) is a coalition of Baha'i, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant, Self- Realization Fellowship, and Unitarian Universalist congregations and individuals dedicated to promoting a better understanding among our people and religious traditions. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, IAI is publishing an interfaith devotional to be given to participants. Hear a short history of the project and enjoy panelists such as K.P. Singh, Shahid Athar, Father Boniface Hardin and others. How can an interfaith focus move us emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually as we stay firm in our beliefs and are open and respectful to others? How and when have interfaith experiences and learning affected our moving, staying, and changing—as individuals, family members, and members of faith communities? The program concludes with fun, dynamic, audience participation in an interfaith dialogue.

Sponsored by Friends of Awakening Sangha and Interfaith Alliance Indianapolis.

Questions? Call 745-6306 or e-mail JTILTON99@aol.com

Nov. 17: Gravitating Towards Indianapolis

A discussion of what is happening in the world of Indianapolis Art, and how it might be even better

When: Thursday 17 November, 7:00-9:00 PM

Where: Indianapolis Art Center, Library, 820 E. 67th St.

The recent 2005 Arts edition of NUVO is a great overview of the vibrant young art scene in Central Indiana. It’s more than the expansions of such stalwart institutions as the IMA and the Eiteljorg. I felt something like this once before, Seattle around 1981, a bubbling and yeasty ferment that preceded something very special erupting a few years later. This doesn’t mean Indy will become a cultural hub of the universe the way Seattle did, but it could mean that we are seeing the world of local art blossom as it has not before.

The east and west coasts are no longer the center of the Art World in the United States. Over the past ten years Indianapolis has become a major hub for the arts in the Midwest. Forward thinking city planning, museum growth, corporate funding, and grassroots support for the arts have blossomed in Indianapolis on many levels. Many artists end up moving back, relocating or working closely with "Arts Based Organizations" in Indianapolis. Come and hear success stories and share resources and reasons to maintain and benefit from this explosion in the Arts emanating from Indianapolis from artists, funders, gallery owners, and art lovers alike.

Sponsored by Indianapolis Art Center and Efroymson Foundation, and part of Spirit& Place. Questions? Call 255-2464 or e-mail alamb@indplsartcenter.org.

Nov. 18: Regulars and Refugees -- An Evening with Carrie Newcomer

Song and conversation with one of Indiana's great artists in one of Indiana's great theatres

When: Friday 18 November, 7:30-9:30 PM

Where: The Royal Theater, 59 S. Washington, Danville, IN

A concert with renowned Hoosier folk singer/songwriter/poverty activist Carrie Newcomer will allow adults and youth to explore what it means to be moving and/or staying through the song-stories of the regulars and refugees at Betty’s Diner. Throughout her career, Newcomer has mined the foibles and ecstasies of the human condition and come up with gems of songs that reveal the divine and the sublime in us all. Says Newcomer. “The songs focus on relationships and the human story. They are about sorrow and joy, humor and despair, loss and hope. Things we cherish and things we always grieve. This is a collection about the human condition, as I know it.”

You can hear snippets of Newcomer’s songs at her website: www.carrienewcomer.com.
Listen to a portion of Carrie Newcomer – “Holy as a Day Spent”
Listen to a portion of Carrie Newcomer – “Love is Wide”

$15 at the door, $10 if registered by 11/11/05. To register call Janice Phillips at 237-7799. Questions? Call 237-7799 or e-mail bbill@centerforcongregations.org

Sponsored Indianapolis Center for Congregations and The Royal Theater, part of Spirit & Place.

Nov. 19: "Time and Timeless-ness: A Conversation with Stewart Brand and Witold Rybczynski"

A discussion with two of the world's leading thinkers about space, place, and community: Designer and philosopher Stewart Brand (How Buildings Learn) and Witold Rybczynski (The Perfect House), moderated by local legend architect Evans Woollen

When: Saturday 19 November, 2:00-3:00 PM

Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art, DeBoest Lecture Hall, 4000 N Michigan Rd.

A building, a tool, and a piece of furniture: each embodies an idea about utility or beauty, a belief about what people should want or need. This dialogue is about the mobility of ideas and theories of design over time and across cultures. How do styles and technologies acquire staying power for the future—or simply expire? This program is inspired by the IMA’s fall exhibition, International Arts & Crafts, and made possible by the Evans Woollen Fund.

Questions? Call 923-1331 x296 or e-mail alaker@ima-art.org.

Nov. 20: Viewing of film "Alan & Naomi" and discussion with director Sterling van Wagenen

A widely praised film, a discussion with the director (who was a co-founder of Sundance Film Festival), part of Spirit & Place, sponsored by Heartland Film Festival and Indianapolis Art Center

When: Sunday 20 November, 5:00-8:00 PM

Where: Indianapolis Art Center, The Frank M. Basile Auditorium, 820 E. 67th St.

Enjoy a film with discussion. View the critically acclaimed Alan & Naomi, a film about a 14-year-old boy living in 1944 Brooklyn who is engrossed in stickball and model airplanes until he befriends a young French girl scarred by World War II. Then follow up with a discussion of this 1992 Crystal Heart Award-winning film with Director Sterling Van Wagenen. Tickets sold at the door: $7 adults, $5 seniors and students.

Questions? Call 633-1456 or e-mail lisa@360grouponline.com.

Juneteenth, Joy, and Jazz

Juneteenth, Joy, and Jazz

John Clark
Sagamore Institute

Juneteenth may be the greatest holiday you’ve never heard of. Commemorating the end of slavery, Juneteenth reminds all of us that freedom matters, and to create a better society we must work – and play – together.

Juneteenth was born in Galveston on June 19, 1865, when Gen. Gordon Granger of the occupying Union Army proclaimed:

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.”

Aware that the war had ended with the South’s defeat in April, whites greeted the decree with stony silence. For blacks, however, the announcement that they were free was news. Their masters hadn’t gotten around to telling them about Abraham Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation” two and a half years earlier. Observers described an outburst of cheers and whoops, crying and dancing that spread across the city. Said one newly liberated woman, “We all walked down the road singing and shouting to beat the band.”

America’s slavery was particularly barbaric because it gave no rights or legal protection to slave families. Owners could sell their “property” with no regard to connections of kinship or love. Thus within weeks many of Galveston’s ex-slaves had left the region, setting off to search for long-separated sons and daughters, parents and spouses.

But first they partied.

While their former masters cringed behind locked doors, awaiting the eruption of (what many have considered well-deserved) vengeance that never came, the newly freed slaves celebrated outdoors for days. Story-telling contests, feasts unlike anything they had tasted, story-telling contests, marathons of song and dance … it was two and a half centuries of suppressed happiness finally allowed spontaneous expression. I wish I’d been there, and I’ll bet you do too.

Calling Juneteenth the “African American Independence Day” reminds us that even though the country was founded with the bold proclamation that “all men are created equal,” a quarter of those who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 were slave-owners. For the people they called “property,” the Fourth of July was not much different from the Third.

Don’t think, however, only African Americans have a right or reason to celebrate their Independence Day. Slavery poisoned and perverted the nation’s values. Justice and equality before the law imply that none of us are free unless all of us are free. Thus the destruction of this evil system liberated all Americans, and Juneteenth deserves to be celebrated joyfully by everyone, black and white (and yellow and brown). It goes deeper than this, even. In his great posthumously published novel, Juneteenth, Ralph Ellison writes that blacks and whites in America are bound by “some cord of kinship stronger and deeper than blood or hate or heartbreak.”

For decades in Texas and the South, as Jim Crow restrictions increasingly barred them from public and civil life, African Americans reasserted their emancipation with grand Juneteenth festivities. These elaborate traditions vanished a bit with the Great Migration north and with the real (albeit incomplete) achievements of the civil rights movement.

Neglecting this holiday today would be a shame. Juneteenth gives us all an opportunity to reflect on America’s future as well as it past. Again, to quote Ellison: “There’s been a heap of Juneteenths before this one, and I tell you there’ll be a heap more before we’re truly free!” We don’t need a few hate-filled, house-torching bigots to remind us 140 years after Gen. Granger’s Galveston proclamation that race remains our country’s great unhealed wound.

Indiana is not one of the fifteen states that have declared Juneteenth an official holiday. No problem. Juneteenth shouldn’t be commemorated by mall sales or profits for greeting card companies. It’s a time for spontaneous fun, for the enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures. If Thanksgiving is “Turkey Day,” Juneteenth is “Barbeque Day.” This weekend you could go to the park, firing up the grill with family and friends (old and new). How better to honor the slave families cruelly ripped apart by the greed and caprice of their owners?

Those (like me) who wish they’d been present at the original Juneteenth celebration should go to the Children’s Museum on June 18. All day the splendid Freetown Singers will engage visitors in story-telling, songs and dance. As always, having kids is just an excuse for grown-ups to visit the Children’s Museum: everyone should go.

If you are in Bloomington on June 19, you should participate in IU’s Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s Juneteenth celebration. A parade, musical performances, a drama about the Underground Railroad … it sounds like a traditional Texas Juneteenth.

One of the truly important institutions in Indianapolis is Martin University, established in 1977 to serve low-income, minority, and adult learners. Juneteenth weekend is a great chance to learn more about Martin University during its Community Day. June 18 from 10 AM to 4 PM you can meet students and faculty members, tour the campus, eat free food, and try to win prizes.

An important part of understanding the meaning of slavery is to seek a better understanding of the African cultures from which those who were to be slaves were wrenched. Indianapolis is very fortunate to host a performance on Juneteenth of the great Zimbabwean musician Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, along with the Black Spirits and with the Kenyan group of dancers and musicians, Jabali Afrika. This will be at the Music Mill on the NE side of Indianapolis. I have a couple of CDs by Mtukudzi, he is awesome! (On the other hand, even though my colleagues at www.indyethnicfood.com assure me the food there is great, I am not convinced that I am cool enough to hang out at the Music Mill. And so…)

This weekend I’ll be in Military Park, celebrating Juneteenth at the Indy Jazz Fest. Although the festival’s organizers for some reason never mention Juneteenth, ethnic as well as musical harmony is prominently displayed at the Jazz Fest. No other local event features such easy and natural blending of colors on the stage, or such casual and unselfconscious mingling in the audience. Friends and strangers, drawn together by a shared passion for cool tunes. Jazz, after all, is more than this country’s major contribution to world art. It’s the beautiful flower growing out of the dungheap of American racism. For a century jazz music has been created by blacks and whites, playing freely as equals. What better image for what race relations can become, and what better way to celebrate this great and underappreciated holiday of Juneteenth?

John Clark is Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute for Policy research. Contact him at john@sipr.org.