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January 22, 2025
by Darien De Lu
Outgoing President
In a first day of over a hundred destructive, divisive, and possibly disabusing executive orders, we see undeniably what we – as active supporters of peace and justice – are up against with the new President. Each new day brings worse news, and the devastation of his actions is appalling. The horror of the implementation of Project 2025 looms.
How will we organize to push back against Project 2025 and the white Christian supremacists who are ready to use violence against us?
For decades we’ve been opposing the greedy and powerful forces behind military spending, so perhaps we have some understanding of the structural strength of the military-industrial-tech complex. That experience and insight can help keep us going in this daunting struggle. But in the current crisis we are facing not just that powerful complex but also extremist, deeply racist, and anti-democratic forces, united under their new President. So our knowledge is not enough.
The powerful model given us by Jane Addams, in sticking to principled positions in the operations of Hull House, is followed by decade after decade of WILPF members’ committed pursuit of peace and justice policies. Those long years of organizing in the U.S. have given us the opportunity to build structures, alliances, and an enduring (if often forgotten!) good reputation. These historic strengths and benefits are valuable. But to exercise influence in this iteration of potential authoritarian fascism, we need more.
The situation today is too serious for anything less than WILPF solidarity and support for WILPF work! And I want your help to do that.
WILPF has a proud tradition of critique and analysis. Our history of engaging in power analyses helps us identify weak spots and internal conflicts in our opponents. Growing from that, even today – when popular attitudes usually look for simple answers – our WILPF committees and branches often ask the questions, do the research, and dig deep to identify interconnections. We work to develop a broad understanding. All this is fundamental to productive WILPF work, but there’s more that we need.
I believe what’s required for WILPF’s increased effectiveness is a greater ability to lay aside personal (and political) differences in order to support our work and our leadership once an informed decision is made. Following from that, in these time, we can and must work together.
As noted, we’re accustomed – appropriately so! – to challenging and seeking out the flaws in our opponents. However, in contrast to some other global societies, the culture in the U.S. prizes individualism. Unfortunately, in WILPF the combination of a critical approach and individualism expresses itself negatively. Too often that manifests not merely as dissension but as strife and discord among individual members and even subtle or blatant personal attacks against opponents within WILPF. This destructive situation can go to the extent of raising obstacles to and undermining the work of the group. That behavior is crippling for us, slowing us down and discouraging our volunteers.
Disagreement about the best course is a normal part of group process. But once an informed decision is reached by the group, it is crucial that there be backing for the implementation of that decision. Worse yet, if members allow their disputes or opposition to harden into rancor, then that can lead to actual obstructionism. Even long after a given body makes a decision, action on proposals and project organizing can be unproductively delayed. Hard working volunteers can be made to work harder, rather than receiving backing and support.
Sadly, in-fighting among all kinds of peace activist is a known phenomenon. I’m not claiming to be entirely innocent myself! But we don’t have time for that. Can we get past that in order to be effective? We have a tool to do so, and we need your support for it to succeed.
WILPF US offers our own process to better work out disputes. If a personal dispute is derailing or distracting us from being able to work together, through the wisdom of a panel of Peace Seekers, our Peace Seekers Procedure can make good use of the well developed conflict resolution skills of some of our members. We want the kind of resolutions that don’t just paper over a dispute but, instead, work to help each side have a more objective understanding of the concerns and priorities of the others.
Through the work of the PSP, WILPF members can better practice and more fully live up to the peaceful relations that WILPF seeks.
You can help! Does the idea of the PSP appeal to you? For it to function, we seek two distinct kinds of volunteers, with different qualifications. If you have qualifying peace seeking experience, skills, and/or knowledge, you could be a panelist. And you can be a Peace Seeker even if you don’t qualify to be a panelist; we are looking for volunteers to help organize the panelists and the structures of the Procedure.
If you have qualifying peace seeking experience, skills, and/or knowledge, I hope you will apply to be a panelist, to help us address and – ideally – resolve conflicts in a way that minimizes dissatisfaction and resentments. The panels of Peace Seekers “hear” and address internal disputes and conflicts and seek ways to support peace and reconciliation. Being a Peace Seeker panelist isn’t likely to be greatly demanding; in the last six years, we’ve had only a few situations that might have turned to the PSP.
And if you’re interested in supporting the PSP in other ways, we ask you to pitch in! For both PSP roles, the Procedure can work if you do.
The national Board passed the Peace Seeker Procedure in March 2024, and we want to get it started as soon as possible for when it’s needed. But we haven’t yet. Please contact me to volunteer: President@wilpfUS.org.
These dire times call for urgent responses, and WILPF members across the country are preparing to take significant steps in influencing U.S. actions and developing WILPF’s future. As Melina Abdullah, said on Pacific radio: “Don’t be scared: Be prepared!”
What a wealth of resources and strengths we have to support us! We have the tool of nonviolent communication to help us better understand the underlying needs that may push us to seeming opposition. We have our sisterhood (extended, even to our male members) to strengthen and motivate our resolve to choose to work together. By additionally seriously and deeply discussing our options, conducting the kinds of assessments and analyses that have provided understanding in the past, and honestly and openly raising and addressing our objections and concerns we can bring out the best in both WILPF plans and the effective work to implement them.
These critical times require us to act more effectively. Now is the time for us to exercise these ways to reconcile or lay aside our differences and work supportively together.
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