September 11, 2001 was a critical test of the Reconciliation Walk’s work. In the months following the attack, suspicion and blame filled the air. Growing enmity and distrust - a belief in the inexorable “Clash of Civilizations” - demanded our response.
To address this, we called upon the friends we made in the Reconciliation Walk to mount meetings in Beirut and Damascus. It was a chance to dispel the negative beliefs and to affirm our relationships.
The stated goal of the attacks was to divide us and enforce conflict. Together, the Middle Eastern and Western participants said no to this dark future. It is notable that every single religious community in the Middle East participated in the conferences.
Lynn Green, Matthew Hand and Judge Abbas Halabi
Initial Reaction to 9/11 Matthew Hand
Initial Reaction to 9/11 Lynn Green
Leaders of Lebanon's Religious Communities
Damascus Symposium, Matthew Hand and Lynn Green
Damascus Delegates at Syrian Government Palace
