An expanding vision of peace

"Wisdom is the art and science of learning how to live well together. We're not doing a very good job of it." -- Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator for Voices for Creative Nonviolence

John Noltner finally got fed up with the anger, hate and blaming. So the Bloomington resident set out to create a forum where people with a wide range of opinions, experiences and perspectives could share their thoughts without starting an argument.

"During the last election cycle, I got so frustrated with the lack of dialogue," he said. "Everything in the public discourse was taken over by the angry voices. I thought that there has to be a way for the more reasonable voices to be heard."

He created a website called A Peace of My Mind (www.apeaceofmymind.net). He interviews people about peace -- whatever the term means to them -- and posts their audio responses along with photographs of them.

Every response is different.

"That's what I think is so interesting," he said. "Peace to a homeless man is entirely different from peace to a business executive. Peace to a Holocaust survivor is not the same as peace to a Buddhist minister."

"There are many ways to find it [peace], but it takes a whole lot to acquire it." -- David Diempre Jr., homeless disabled vet

Noltner, 42, is a free-lance photographer. The son of a social worker and a teacher, he usually has some sort of nonprofit project going in his spare time. In April, he was looking for a new project when he thought of the peace dialogue.

"I've done a lot traveling for nonprofits, shooting pictures they use to promote their causes," he said. "But in light of the economy, I was looking for something closer to home, something I could do without a large outlay of cash and without having to give up other jobs. This is something I can work on now and then, between other jobs."

But it's taking up increasing amounts of time, and, he admits, he's excited about that. The Bloomington school district is discussing creating a class based on the project. Carleton College wants him to do an on-campus version. There are talks about an art show and, possibly, a book.

"My father keeps teasing me about when is this going to help me pay the bills," he said. "The truth is, he's very interested in it."

"Wars impede the evolution of human beings." -- Sami Rasouli, founder of Muslim Peacemaker Teams

The project isn't what Noltner originally envisioned.

"When I started out, I was going to interview religious leaders," he said. "My thinking was that so many conflicts are rooted in religion -- or, at least, the poor use of religion, the misappropriation of religion for political and personal motives."

Religious leaders are represented, but they are part of a much broader mix.

"I'm a fan of Studs Terkel," he said of the late author/historian known for his interviews with common citizens. "I like the idea of tapping a cross-section of society for a rich, human history."

He has done a good job of representing all segments of society. "My one remaining concern is age," he said. "My oldest subject is in her 80s, my youngest is in his mid-20s. I need to get a college student and a high school student. I'd love to get an elementary school student if I could find one who is really articulate."

"Without hope [for peace], there is no point." -- Rev. Rick Rittmaster, chaplain for the 34th Infantry Division in Basrah, Iraq

A common misconception is that his project is antiwar.

"It's not intended to be antiwar. I've interviewed members of the military who have been home on leave. They have a perspective on peace just like everyone else -- except theirs is different from everyone else's."

He wants to get people talking, not arguing.

"My end goal is to foster public dialogue," he said. "This is not about figuring out who's right and who's wrong. Once we start talking, we realize that we have a lot in common. We might be on different paths, but we're trying to reach the same goal."

Nazi concentration camps were "the absolute absence of peace. There can be no peace in a place like that." -- Judy Baron, Auschwitz survivor

A Lutheran, Noltner has his own perspective on the issues being discussed, but he remains impartial during the interviews.

"Sometimes they'll ask me about my religion, and I'll tell them," he said. "I think they have a right to know, but I'm not going to challenge their ideology. My intent is to honor their vision, not to communicate my own. I want to give them every opportunity to explain what they believe."

No one has convinced him to change his stance. In fact, just the opposite has occurred.

"The discussions have strengthened my beliefs," he said. "The opportunity to explain what I believe and why I believe it has given me a chance to look at what connects us. Our common humanity bonds us together."

"Watching my wife garden. For me, that's the essence of peace." -- Julius Collins III, musician

Jeff Strickler • 612-673-7392