Around the Nation: November 15, 2008

Hundreds of people will join together in southern Arizona on November 15 & 16 to say no to torture. Save the dates... plan to join us! Plan for Action: Civil Initiative to Stop the Training and Practice of Torture will be held from 10am to 3:30pm. We will work together on a plan for beyond the weekend that will accomplish this goal, followed by: Sign making, an evening program and a procession to the federal building for a vigil. If you have questions, please send us an e-mail or call 520-745-5803. Updated information will be posted online.

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New York City's own Mickey Z. is the author of two new and decidedly offbeat books. Both CPR for Dummies (experimental novel) and No Innocent Bystanders: Riding Shotgun in the Land of Denial (radical non-fiction) defy the conventions of traditional format and style. They also challenge readers to come along for the very, very bumpy ride. As Sander Hicks asks about Mickey Z.: “How can one be so sweet and yet so fierce?” Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street. 212.777.6028

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Performance by Ollin Imagination. "Bruised MangOs: Rhythmic Ammunition por la Paz" is a Latino response to the Iraq War. It is a performance combining poetry, spoken word, music, and theater to convey the horrific effects of war on communities in the United States and abroad. The various characters explore the multifaceted dimensions of people affected by the war. The artists delve into the lives of war veterans, women, poor youth and immigrants. The crude reality, discrimination and hopelessness faced in war are common threads uniting the lives of these characters. Although filled with the injustices and horrors of war, humor and hope also blend to remind us of the possibility of a just and peaceful society. $20.The Brecht Forum is located at 451 West Street, between Bank and Bethune.

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The political quarterly Dissent hosts "November 4: What Happened and What's To Come," a talk by Harold Meyerson, columnist at the Washington Post and editor-at-large of The American Prospect. Meyerson will dissect the election results and contemplate the likely composition and direction of the incoming administration. At the UNITE-HERE offices, 275 Seventh Avenue, 10th floor. No tickets necessary.

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On February 25, 2000, a young gay Mormon named Henry Stuart Matis drove to the Mormon Ward House in Los Altos, California, placed a gun to his head and ended his life. This provocative drama is based on the actual events of his life in which he faced a tragic, false dilemma; either one is gay or one is Christian. Trapped between his same sex attraction and the power of his LDS faith, Henry made the ultimate sacrifice, removing the chains of his mortality. At the TBG Theatre, 312 West 36th St. Tickets: $18.

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Six-session course, Wednesdays beginning Oct. 29. Facilitated by Ora Wise, Ryvka Bar Zohar, Carlos Nunez, Una Osato, Brian Pickett, Tej Nagaraja and Rania Jawad. This course aims to provide a solid understanding of the history and current politics of Palestine. We will analyze the intersecting systems of imperialism, capitalism, colonization, and racism underlying the situation in Palestine and draw connections to the parallel systems of oppression operating in the US. Sliding scale: $65-$85. The Brecht Forum is located at 451 West Street (between Bank and Bethune). 212-242-4201.

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