A Minnesota PBS Initiative
WISE FOOLS – Wisdom on the Folly of War
Every year, since 2003, World Storytelling Day events take place on or around March 20 in more than 25 countries. Storytelling is often thought of as fairytales, fables, and oral history, but it is also commonly used to foster peace and understanding, community building, healing, and in advocacy work.
Each year a global theme complements the principal concept behind WSD, "If I can hear your story, it's harder for me to hate you.”
This year’s global theme, “Wise Fools," was interpreted through the lens of “Wisdom on the Folly of War” and featured ‘those who speak truth from the heart even in the face of popular opposition.’ In the wake of the Burns/Novick film, Vietnam, the stories of the evening examined the war from multiple perspectives.
THE STORYTELLERS
LARRY JOHNSON & RINGING OF THE BELLS
WSD host and coordinator, Vietnam unarmed medic, past President of VFP, and author of Sixty-One, 61 stories calling for less war, more walking, and no arguing on veteran care
PHUOC THI MINH TRAN
Award-winning author, the first Vietnamese immigrant to become a librarian in Minnesota
JOHN VARONE
Vietnam Veteran, musician, former national VFP board member, honorary member of the Mendota Dakota Community, and leader of veteran flag carrying at Pow Wow
ALLAN BOSTLEMANN
Infantry veteran, licensed clinical social worker emeritus, facilitator for Veteran Healing Memories workshops
FATHER HARRY BURY
Anti-war activist, University of Minnesota Newman Center priest in the 1960's, author of "An Invitation to Think and Feel Differently"
CHANTE WOLF
Award-winning photographer, writer, artist, and educator, served 12 years in the Air Force and Desert Storm in 1991, activist with Women’s Veteran Initiative
NOTHANDO ZULU
Founder/Director of Black Storytellers Alliance and civil rights activist
JIM LOVESTAR
Member of the American Friends Service Committee
CANDACE LOUT
Member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation
STEVE MCKEOWN
Steve McKeown was drafted in 1965 and spent a year in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division as a radio operator. In 1986, McKeown co-founded Veterans for Peace.
The event was dedicated to Dr. Harry Skornia, founder of public broadcasting, and an ardent peace activist.
Twin Cities PBS participated in the information fair, along with a dozen community storytelling organizations, including Minnesota Humanities Center, Veterans for Peace (VFP), and other member groups of Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers.
World Storytelling Day donations benefitted Veterans for Peace, in honor of Frank Kellogg. Kellogg helped engineer the Kellogg-Briand Pact, signed in Paris 90 years ago to outlaw war. He is the only Minnesotan to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: St. Paul, MN
Story Subject: Activist
Affiliate Organization: Twin Cities PBS, Minnesota Humanities Center, Veterans for Peace, Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, Women’s Veteran Initiative, Veteran Healing Project, Black Storytellers Alliance, Veterans for Peace Chapter 27, American Friends Service Committee, Fellowship of Reconciliation, War Resisters League, Women's International League of Peace and Freedom
Story Themes: Activism, Boat People, Fall of Vietnam, Ken Burns, Minnesota Alliance for Peace, Minnesota Humanities Center, Native American, Peace, Veterans for Peace, World Storytelling Day
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