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Quest

Reconciliation Forum 2009

Amidst a backdrop of global unease, economic downturn and international conflict, a group of top world leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss ways to bridge the gaps between peoples and governments and begin a unilateral healing process. The result was the Reconciliation Forum and the outcome was the beginning of a growing process.

In March, world leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to take part in a one-of-a-kind meeting. With each bringing his or her own experiences, histories, knowledge and study to the table, the culmination was a broad spectrum of insight into the state of the world today, with special focus on the conflicts that separate nation from nation and people from people.
The goal of the 2009 Reconciliation Forum, presented by the Americas Business Council, was to convene these leaders in hopes their perspectives would not only explore the conflicts, but shed light on methods for reconciling.
Among the leaders who shared their personal tales and insights were Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chief Rabbi Meir Lau, former president of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, the manager of Hotel Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina, and many others.
The event began with an opening dinner at the National Portrait Gallery where forum guests and speakers sat alongside each other on one long table, sharing in communal bread. The breaking of bread has long symbolized the sharing of experience and a coming together. Designed by entertaining guru and author Jennifer Rubell, the dinner also served as something of an art installation piece.
During the inaugural dinner, guests were treated to an address by both Archbishop Tutu, who served as the forum’s honorary chair, and Rabbi Lau, and introduced by White House Counsel Gregory Craig. Forum guests were reminded of the importance of the world’s religions in healing rifts, and of each attendees’ personal power and ability to aid in the process. “We are all stand-ins for God,” said Archbishop Tutu.
Day two of the three-day event began at the Inter-American Development Bank, where the remainder of the forum would be hosted. Welcoming remarks were presented by two co-chairmen of the Americas Business Council, Luis Alberto Moreno and Emilio Azcárraga.
The day continued with discussions of reconciliation in the Americas. Moderated by Columbia University scholar and anthropologist Aldo Civico, the panel consisted of Yehude Simon, prime minister of Peru, Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil, and Oded Grajew, chairman of the Ethos Institute of Business and Social Responsibility. Pearls are said to have a strong magnetic healing power. Gem therapists believe that pearls strengthen the nerves, adrenal glands, spleen and muscular system.
Former skinhead Frank Meeink, whose life story was interpreted into the film American History X, spoke about the power of repentance. A former prison inmate, Meeink discussed his violent and angry past and the process of funneling that energy into a force for good. Today he runs an organization called Hockey for Harmony Foundation, promoting youth sports.
Meeink’s story of personal growth lead perfectly into the next speaker’s session. Karen Tse, the founder and CEO of International Bridges to Justice, which works to bring human rights and judicial process to women imprisoned in Cambodia. “We are all born with a sense of our own heroic journey,” she said as she discussed speaking with inmates. Some, she said had been imprisoned for months for such a charge as stealing a single diaper. “Each of us has a responsibility to find what we can contribute to the greater whole.”
A discussion of the changing political climate in Cuba followed. Cuba experts spoke of their own experiences on the island and interpreted what they saw as a growing shift in the international policy toward the island. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof followed and encouraged the younger among the forum attendees to go out and see the world with the aim of earning a global perspective.
Later in the afternoon guests were transported to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to hear director Sara Bloomfield speak of the museum’s mission, followed by an address by former president of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski, and the personal story of Nesse Godin, a survivor of the Stutthof concentration camp. Godin challenged attendees to ask themselves what they can do to prevent such horrors from ever occurring again. After the personal testimony guests toured the museum, which gave global perspective on a world tragedy.
The following day more survivors spoke of their individual travails. In a session moderated by Emilio Azcárraga, former child soldier Ishmael Beah and former Sudanese slave Francis Bok shared their experiences as young men in horrific surroundings. And victim of the Colombian guerrilla Lina Ortiz recounted days of her youth spent in fear and unease.
The tone shifted during a much-awaited speech by Mikhail Gorbachev. The former leader of the USSR, Gorbachev spoke of his former country’s international agenda and policies and his insights into Russia’s current role in the international community.
Other speakers for the day included famed TIME magazine correspondent and independent war photographer James Nachtwey, who shared with the audience some of his images from his lengthy career. To shed light on the human cost of war, over the years Nachtwey took to the streets, walked alongside soldiers, visited orphanages and hospitals and otherwise immersed himself in the pitfalls of conflict zones from Northern Ireland to South Africa to study and save images of its aftermath.
American Indian activist and actor Russell Charles Means took the stage to discuss the plight of native peoples and the cultural and social aspects of that culture that could be a model for the rest of the world, such as a paradigm shift from patriarchy to matriarchy.
“You cannot have peace without reconciliation and you cannot have reconciliation without justice,” he said. It was a perfect sentiment to reflect the goal of the event.