Provocate.org

What’s the point of talking to countries like Iran, Syria, North Korea … and the growing list of other countries that wish us ill? Susan Erickson will explain. (more…)

As the US presidential race gathers steam, what role will Iraq play? How many options will the next President have? And what will be the best? Explaining will be Iraq’s ambassador to the UN Feisal Istrabadi, and his big sister Zaineb. (more…)

Saturday, February 23rd the Provocate Book Club will discuss Chris Abani’s novel GraceLand at the new Central Library’s cafe at 11am.

Don’t miss hearing Chris Abani speak at Butler.

Check out other book club picks, visiting writers, and Africa-related events.

Join the discussion now by posting a comment below.

Questions, comments, requests, contact Gwyneth Sutherlin at gwynethsutherlin@hotmail.com

This panel discussion will provide an overview of Kenya, and how Hoosiers are copnnecting with a country on the other side of the world. (more…)

“Old Europe” is finding it difficult to digest new admissions to the EU such as Romania and Bulgaria. Think they are up Turkey? Look at it this way: When Turkey joins, the EU will have more Muslims than Catholics; and it will directly border Syria, Iraq, and Iran. (more…)

Think of Provocations as guides to the intellectual and cultural landscape of Central Indiana. They identify common themes that connect clusters of fascinating and crucial events. They point out new ways of learning about the problems addressed by these events (the one best article you should read before you go as well as the three books you should get with your Barnes & Noble gift card after the event). More importantly, Provocations try to stimulate new ways of thinking about our place in the world, and our ability to imagine new solutions to the world’s problems.

Provocation 1.0 — Race, Rememberance, and Reconciliation.
The problem isn’t that most organizations schedule 90% of their African-American programming around one day in January (Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr.!) and the month of February (Black History Month … the shortest month of the year). The problem is creeping tokenism, or inauthenticity. The problem can be confusion about what we are commemorating when we think of the country’s Terrible Sin of Slavery, and why we are celebrating in the first place. Maybe the Eiteljorg’s important symposium on Wounded Knee will help: after all, the country’s Terrible Sin of Indigenous Genocide is even further from being healed. How to remember the sin of slavery while moving ahead in the 21st century? Provocate has an answer: Attend the events with open ears and open minds, and start preparing for Juneteenth!
Coming January 22.

Provocation 2.0 — Why George W. Bush, Bono, and Adam Smith Can’t Save Africa … But Maybe Hoosiers Can.
Post-election violence has claimed the lives of dozens in Eldoret, Kenya … the newest sister city of Indianapolis. Whose fault is it? And who’s responsible for helping Kenyans put the pieces back together? President Bush’s new model of foreign aid? Bono’s celebrity-driven international civil society? Globalization a la Adam Smith? Maybe we should take another look at that sister city relation.
Coming January 22.

Provocation 3.0 — Seeking a Seperate Peace in the War between Science & Faith.
Global warming, stem cell research, creationism … For another period when organized religion and science clashed as aggressively as they are clashing today, you’d probably have to go back to the French Revolution. Maybe the Russian Revolution. Why so ferocious a conflict now? Finding a middle ground will probably just mean the worst of both side, and the stakes are too high for us to choose wrong or to try to avoid choosing. Provocate looks for something better than the lowest common denominator.
Coming January 23.

Provocation 4.0 — Crossing Boundaries: Beyond Border Transgressions.
Our debate about unauthorized immigration is like Wittgenstein’s view of philosophical dilemmas: a fly trapped in a bottle, whanging back and forth with no means of escape. “Kick ‘em out and keep ‘em out” vs. “Just make them all citizens.” Whang whang whang. This spring Central Indiana has a chance to get our fly out of the bottle.
Coming January 23.

Provocation 5.0 — The Decline of the American Empire, part 1: Friends, Foes, Rivals.
These are tough times for the American Empire. we’re still #1, no doubt about that. But is it really worth it? Our friends in Europe seem unwilling to follow our lead, our enemies refuse to be intimidated by our might, and rivals such as China seem poised to pass us up in coming years. A new president is unlikely to turn things around. Let’s use a visit by China’s Ambassador (as well as Taiwan’s) as an occasion to imagine Empire differently.
Coming January 24.

Provocation 6.0 — The Decline of the American Empire, part 2: A Provincial Perspective.
410 AD: Visigoths sack Rome, thus shattering a thousand years of complacent security. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, was forced to imagine how the provinces would survive shorn of Imperial protection and dominance. “City of God” was his answer. As we in the Indiana provinces contemplate how we will live with the crumbling of the DC-based Empire, what will be our answer?
Coming January 24.

Provocation 7.0 — New Ways of Living, New Ways of Giving.
Think of the most serious problems we face. Crushing poverty at home and abroad, global climate change, ideological and religious extremism … solutions will not be purely rational any more than they can be imposed from above. They will require fundamental, even wrneching, changes in the way we live every day. Fortunately, we can see signs that people of many ideological orientations are creatively rethinking self- and national-interest.
Coming January 25.

Provocation 8.0 — Mid-West/Mid-East.
Think of how turmoil in the Middle East affects our lives every day. Our economy destabilized, the lives of our neighbors and family at risk as they serve in Iraq, national government budget shot to pieces. Worse is the sense of powerlessness: we feel dependent on decisions made in DC or Baghdad or Jerusalem. Don’t despair: This spring we’ll learn five ways that Hoosiers are acting directly to defuse problems in the Mid-East.
Coming January 25.

Provocation 9.0 — Words that Move Us.
Some of the finest novelists, short story writers, and poets in the country are coming to Indianapolis this spring … yet no one seems to notice. What if we really allowed the power of wrods and images to grab hold of our imaginations, would it make a difference in the way we live? Provocate thinks it might, and has some ideas about how to make this transformation possible.
Coming January 26.

Provocation 10.0 — You May be Provocating … And Not Even Know It!
“Provocating” means creative engagement. It means looking for unnoticed connections of global challenges and local initiatives. Provocating means using arts and culture to get better grasp on political issues, while recognizing how the arts are shaped by the political context. Provocating means finding that hook that draws other people into discussions that are both entertaining and illuminating. A surprising number of people are provocating right now … and Provocate wants to help them do it better.
Coming January 26.

January 23 — IPS Superindendent Eugene White on the challenges of educating kids in Indianapolis. Superindendant of Indianapolis Public Schools: everyone expects and reveres him, but no one wants his job. check it out

January 23 — What will be the end-game for the U.S. in Iraq? Will the US pull back from Iraq, in whatever condition it may find itself? Or will we be debating “the endgame in Iraq” 20 years from now? Local Mid-East expert Pierre Atlas knows. check it out

January 24 — “Caring About Our Communities” Drs. Davis, Hunt and Jenkins, fondly known as The Three Doctors, claim to serve as an extraordinary model of leadership for anyone who’s been through any kind of life challenge or major hardship. Their message: dads matter more than doctors. check it out

January 24 — Documentary filmmaker Alison Wotherspoon. Alison Wotherspoon is a documentary film maker and head of production at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Her work on anti-bullying is considered a model of how film and video can change damaging behavior by kids. check it out

January 24 — The Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America In a meeting in Waco on March 23, 2005, Paul Martin (Prime Minister of Canada), Vicente Fox (President of Mexico), and George W. Bush formed a partnership called The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). They had to know it would set off all of the tin-foil hats of paranoids who are convinced that we are slouching toward a United States of North America … so why do it in Waco? check it out

January 25 — Forum on Kenya: UNDERSTANDING AND ACTING, GLOBALLY. Recent elections in Kenya were complacently assumed to be yet more proof that Kenya has made emerged as the most stable democracy in Africa. 500 dean Kenyans later, what have we learned? And what can we do to help rebuild and heal? check it out

January 26 — Eiteljorg Symposium on Wounded Knee “Wounded Knee” was the site of the last armed conflict between the US government and the Lakota Sioux in 1890, resulting in some 146 dead; more than 80 years after the massacre, beginning on February 27, 1973, Wounded Knee was also the site of a 71-day standoff between federal authorities and militants of the American Indian Movement. Eiteljorg is bringing veterans of the latter to discuss what the incidents at Wounded Knee mean to us all. check it out

January 26 — Moiseyev Russian Dance Company. The late and unlamented Soviet Union left behind more than a demographic disaster and a tendency toward authoritarian rule in its successor states. It bequeathed on Russia some fantastic articistic organizations, and one of the best is the 70-year old Moiseyev Russian Dance Company. check it out

January 26 — “Global Warning: An Environment for Change?” IUPUI’s Dean’s Day combines the faculties of the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Science to examine facets of global climate change. Hope you are an IUPUI alumnus and can attend, it should be good. check it out

January 25 & 26 — Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs “Incident at Wounded Knee” Native American composer “Stands With Eagles” Dr. Louis W. Ballard (July 8, 1931 – February 9, 2007) made it his life’s mission to illuminate the unique motivations behind Native American music. His piano concerto “Incident at Wounded Knee” is “an evocation of the traditions and moods of the Indian people.” check it out

January 28 — “Taiwan and the U.S. - Partners in Security, Prosperity, and Democracy” Rapidly growing, ambitious, and unpredictable … China got you worried? Chances are no one worries more and thinks more clearly than the Taiwanese. Hear their virtual ambassador to the US explain their concerns, and why the US needs a strong friend in Taiwan. check it out

January 29 — World Trade Club honors its Global Business Person of the Year. With the rapid increase in Indiana’s international business linkages, who will be the “Global Business Person of the Year”? Think “Cummins.” check it out

January 28 — Religious, Political and Tribal Conflicts in Africa Believe the headlines and one would think that the entire continent of Africa is engulfed perpetually in armed conflicts. It is important to put conflicts in African nations into perspective—in regional and global terms—and to exercise extreme caution in drawing conclusions about these conflicts that one would not apply to the incredible devastation of the “world wars” between Western powers in this century or to the social and economic toll that the innocent citizens of many nations have paid as a result of the cold-war arms race between the superpowers. check it out

January 29 — Former US ambassador Robert Oakley on “Pakistan: What’s Next?” One of the most familiar figures commenting about Pakistan on cable news TV, former Ambassador Robert Oakleywill tell us just how frightened we should be of the disintegration of a nuclear-armed Pakistan. check it out

January 30 — “Is India Still a Secular Country?” India recently celebrated its 60th anniversary as a country. Six decades is a long time for such a religiously-fragmented and religiously-passionate country to stay secular … how much longer can it keep it up? check it out

January 30 — The European Union at 50. Now comprising 25 nations and 450 million citizens, the EU has more people, more wealth, and more votes on every international body than the United States. It eschews military force but offers guaranteed health care and free university educations. And some see the new “United States of Europe” as determined to be a superpower. Yup. check it out

January 31 — Conversations with GOD It has been rumored the The Almighty hangs out at Center Stage Cafe in Indianapolis, usually waiting to take the mic on Spoke N Heard Tuesdays. Now it looks like he’ll be joining a Mosaic international conversation cafe. check it out

January 31 — The Heart’s Imperative: Reclaiming Integrity & Courage in Professional and Public Life. Parker Palmer believes that those professions that draw people who wish to serve, that call on the heart — professions such as teaching, or health care, or politics, or provocating — can erode the heart over time. How to renew and restore? If that isn’t enough to get you to the discussion, how about Carrie Newcomer? check it out

February 24 — Mastora Bakhiet on Darfur With the largest population of refugees from Darfur living in the US, you’d expect Fort Wayne to be a seedbed of ideas and activities to help that strife-town chunk of Sudan. And you’d be right. Mastora Bakhiet explains the latest initiative to be launched from Darfur Central. check it out

February 25 — “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” Do you know who you are eating? Berkeley scientist Michael Pollan thinks you should. check it out

February 25 — “A School without Walls” Dr. David Matthews is an IU surgeon who spent four years doing surgery and directing a mission hospital in Cameroon, and five years in Kenya performing and teaching surgery. He should be able to explain how cross-cultural experience can kindle a service-oriented career. check it out

February 26 — “Where is Russia Going?” During his two terms as president, Vladimir Putin has attempted to remake Russia into a major, independent world power. Some of his recent policies have provoked concern in the U.S. and Europe. With a 2008 Russian presidential election expected, what course will Russia take? check it out

February 26 — “Atheism Resurgent?” Philosopher, historian of science, poet, comic … which Dr. Jennifer Michael Hecht will come to Butler to discuss the current wave of aggressive atheism sweeping the country’s bookstores? check it out

February 26 — The courtroom scene of “Merchant of Venice” performed and discussed at IU-I law school. The American Shakespeare Center Touring Troupe features actors of the Shakespeare Center at the Blackfriars Playhouse. This exciting, troupe of professional actors tours universities throughout the United States offering students and faculty alike (from all disciplines and majors), the opportunity to see Shakespeare come alive. check it out

February 26 — “Ethical Perspectives in Medicine, Health and Science” What does the Secretary General of the World Medical Association worry about? Global efforts in TB resistance, torture and medical professionals, health and human rights, and the next revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki, for starters. check it out

February 26 — February 26 — The Church and Immigration: What Would Jesus Do? For an idea of what Jesus would do about illegal immigration, just read the New Testament. Pretty doubtful he’d be talking about evicting the poor and vulnerable. Of course some might say it’s also doubtful Christ would be considered a Christian today. Maybe a diverse panel of religious and political leaders can help make sense of this puzzlement. check it out

February 27 — Dr. Aurelian Craiutu on Europe, Russia, Romania. check it out

February 27 — Latin America leans left. Twenty-five years ago: Latin America consisted entirely of right-wing dictatorships, and John Clark was a Berkeley radical pondering how to provoke revolution. Today: Latin America is full of left-leaning democracies, and John Clark is worried. What changed? check it out

February 28 — Successful Multiracial Congregations: How It’s Done. The most segregated moment in America is Sunday mornings. Is it a problem that most whites choose to worship with other whites, most blacks with other blacks? George Yancey thinks it is, and wants to help everyone deal with it. check it out

February 28 & March 1 — The American Shakespeare Company presents “Henry V.” On 25th October 1415 an English army, heavily outnumbered against the French, close to the village of Agincourt, turned what seemed like inevitable defeat and annihilation into an overwhelming victory. Focusing on this miraculous day led by an inspiring leader, Shakespeare’s “Henry V” seems to counter most of the political messages in the rest of his body of work … how come? check it out

February 28 — Film “The Iron Ladies of Liberia.” In early 2006, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female to be elected president of Liberia, was inaugurated and began appointing other influential women to leadership positions. In this intimate film, Daniel Junge and Siatta Scott Johnson document Johnson-Sirleaf’s first year in office, as she works to bring stability to a nation rocked by civil war. check it out

February 28 — Celebrate International Women’s Day at IUPUI. check it out

February 29 — “You Talkin’ to Me?”: Political Messages/Multicultural Perspectives. 20% of the journalism today is better than ever before; 80% is worse than ever before. The problem is not that people don’t have access to the best, it’s that they no longer can even distinguish the good from the bad. check it out

February 29-March 1 — Give “Whirled Peas” a Chance: The Importance of Eating Local Get it? “Whirled Peas” and “World Peace”! The idea is that these near-homophones may be more closely linked than you’d think. Will eating fresh and local contribute to defusing global conflicts and crises? We’ll see. check it out

March 25 — “Why People Find Understanding Mormonism So Difficult” Just because Mitt couldn’t reshape himself enough to become the Republican presidential nominee doesn’t mean we get to ignore Mormonism now. In fact, his campaign revealed just how poorly informed (and let’s be honest, in some cases how prejudiced) non-Mormons are about this rapidly growing faith. check it out

March 25 — The impact of private philanthropy on international development. Billionaire Warren Buffet’s June 2007 pledge to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation prompted headlines about the size of the gift and the impact it could have on global education and health initiatives. Can private donors be more effective than governments in tackling world problems? check it out

March 26 — China Business 2008: Expanding Opportunities for US (and Indiana) Companies. Want to do business in China, but aren’t sure how? Or do you want to swap 21st century adventure stories about the fabulous riches waiting to be seized in China, and the terrible risks of seizing wrong? Maybe you are thinking about getting a job that would connect you to the an economy that keeps growing faster than seems possible. Or maybe you just want a chance to grab some powerful Chinese and American government officials and ask: “What should we do?” If so, this symposium at IUPUI is the place to be. check it out

March 27 — Poets Cornelius Eady and Mitchell L.H. Douglas. Cave Canem seeks to provide a safe haven for black poets—whether schooled in MFA programs or poetry slams—to come together to work on their craft and engage others in critical debate. Hear how it is going. check it out

March 27 — Poet Lee Upton Lee Upton says of her latest book of poetry: “Undid in the Land of Undone meditates on the exhilaration of ambition and the double-edged nature of failure. A failure can bring pain, certainly, but a failure may also signal our ability to act on our best and highest hopes. A failure of our own is more exciting than a success that doesn’t challenge us.” (Remember when you are thinking of a going-away present January of 2008.) check it out

March 27 — Turkish Foreign Policy: Operations, Priorities & Issues Kenan Ipek, the Consul General of Turkey, explains the dilemmas facing his country at one of its most critical periods in decades. check it out

March 27 — A Provocate favorite, Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort, returns to Indianapolis. Born Valhyna Martynava in 1981 in Minsk, Valzhyna Mort is famed throughout Europe for her poetry and how she reads it … or more accurately, how she performs it. check it out

March 27 — “Joyful Gathering at Mt. Huang” Chinese and Western music, creation of works of art before the eyes of the audience … it can only happen at the University of Indianapolis. check it out

March 28 — 2008 Indianapolis Women of Color Conference The Women of Color Conference 2008 was created to advocate, educate and promote the success and well-being of all women and future women of color in five main areas: business, education, finance, health and workforce development. check it out

March 29 — First Indiana Bread for the World Conference. Millions of U.S. children go hungry every year, and millions more die every year from hunger or from preventable and treatable disease. This conference will bring together national and local anti-hunger leaders along with concerned individuals from across Indiana to learn about hunger and how to use our voices to end hunger in our lifetimes. check it out

March 30 — Provocate Presents a discussion of “Taxi to the Dark Side.” A paid American informant fingers an innocent Afghan taxi driver for a rocket attack. It’s later revealed the informant himself was actually the terrorist. The cabbie dies after five days of torture. That’s the entry point of Alex Gibney’s Oscar-winning documentary about American torture activities, illustrated with previously-unseen images, and including interviews with some of the torturers themselves, and disenchanted administration officials. Easy viewing? Probably not, but essential nonetheless … and even more essential to have an open discussion of the film’s issues. check it out

March 31 — Be part of the World Food Program’s efforts to end world hunger. Learn about what the World Food Program is doing in the state of Indiana and how to join the fight against hunger. check it out

March 31 — Stephen Flynn explains why “port security is still a house of cards.” Stephen Flynn ranks among the world’s most widely cited experts on homeland; maritime and port; and trade and transportation security issues. Since 9/11 he has provided testimony on 17 occasions on Capitol Hill and has testified before the Canadian House of commons and the Canadian Senate. Now he comes far from port, to the Woodstock Club. check it out