Winning the peace. This phrase has a gloomy significance for all women who once had visions of laying down their war work just as soon as the Germans and Japs laid down their arms. But most of us realize— especially those of us who have experienced two great wars to end war— that there is a great need for a drastic change in the management of human affairs. We know that change will have to be fought for and that, I think, is what we mean when we talk about winning the peace. The winning of the peace may be just as long, and just as arduous a job, as the winning of the war has been. It will call for continued effort and continued self-denial, and this at a time when, to many of us, complete retirement into private life would be the height of luxury. We must face the necessity of extending our war-time organizations into organizations for winning the peace, just as our factories, when war weapons are no longer required will turn to the requirements of normal living.
““social relationships on our own streets and in our own communities must be cultivated and extended as a prelude to closer relationships with people of other communities and other countries””
In the winning of the peace, as in the winning of the war, most of us will be followers rather than leaders. But to be an alert and conscientious follower in a good cause is to be a very valuable cog indeed in the wheel of progress. And it is possible for each and every one of us to contribute to the cause of winning the peace by incorporating in our daily lives the principles that will make such victory possible. We must incline more and more to the co-operative way of life. I am not referring here to the co-operative movement in business and industry although that will undoubtedly play a major role in winning the peace. I mean that social relationships on our own streets and in our own communities must be cultivated and extended as a prelude to closer relationships with people of other communities and other countries. The distinction between Canadians and New Canadians must, somehow or another be abolished, as a prelude to modification of distinctions between larger racial groups. But perhaps the greatest effort of co-operations required of women— and I am speaking of older women now— like myself— will be with youth and the aspirations of youth. The winning of the peace will not necessarily mean the establishment of world conditions as we older people— men AND women— might desire to have them. But it does mean the establishment of world conditions as desired by the young people who have saved civilization from the threat of extinction. Our part really will to be to strengthen, as unobtrusively possible, the fabrics of the nation's life with the weight of our experience and caution. But the fabric itself will be largely woven by youth in the daring colors and patterns natural to youth. It is not only the youth of Canada that will be experimenting with dyes and designs. Youth in all parts of the world, it would seem, has been violently awakened, first by a world-wide depression, and now by a world-wide war, to a sense of responsibility for its own future. And the peace will not have been fully won until the tapestries woven by the youth of the world have been joined into one harmonious whole acceptable to all the races and creeds that people the earth. And we— who lost the golden opportunity for progress along these lines provided by our victory in the last war— should now, in all humility, co-operate with youth in whatever attempt it makes to realize any concept of life which it considers possible and desirable.
There are, of course, many policies on which all Canadiens see eye to eye. We desire, urgently and passionately, the provision of uninterrupted opportunity to establish and maintain comfortable homes. The peace will not have been won until this condition materializes. Our country is rich and young with limitations to the abundant life practically non-existent.
““To let the mere matter of cost stand between a human being and health—especially in this era of declining birth-rates—has all the ear-marks of stupidity””
As to health— women have long been vocal on the criminal extravagance of governments that fail to preserve and protect human life with every weapon that medical science provides. To let the mere natter of cost stand between a human being and health— especially in this era of declining birth-rates— has all the ear-marks of stupidity.
Then we want more education for our children— better education. Education that will enable them to make a more realistic approach to adult life and make them better citizens. Not only better citizens of Canada but better citizens of the world. Our men and women on service will, by the very nature of their experiences and travels, bring back a cosmopolitan attitude of thought which will be reflected, probably, in a broadening of our social and educational outlook.
But, for the winning of the peace it is imperative that some similar measures of home security, better health facilities and more liberal education be encouraged in all the countries of the world so that the seeds of war have no fertile soil left in which to germinate. If we are asked to help people less fortunate than ourselves— and it is unthinkable that we would refuse such a request— we shall only make confusion worse confounded unless our own house is set in order first. We should therefore be insisting on action now— or, at the very least, on the blue-prints being ready for immediate action when hostilities cease. Our leaders must be made to realize the value of sturdy homes standing like little Rocks of Gibraltar in a turbulent sea of change… of a people whose rugged health fires them with energy and ambition… and of children engrossed in a well rounded out programme of physical, mental and social education that leaves them no time to explore the shady byways of life that leads to juvenile delinquency. Every country that has clear-cut policies for peace-winning in operation— or, at the very least ready to go into operation— will reduce by just that much the chaos that is bound to follow the close of the fighting phase of the war.
City women, I think, could help to win the peace by co-operating more fully, and more intelligently, with their rural sisters in the latter's demand for alleviation of the drudgery to which they are condemned by our unbalanced economy. The city woman finds her housework eased year by year by the introduction of new conveniences. And the care of her home being her sole duty, she finds herself with abundant leisure. The rural housewife, who has innumerable duties besides the care of her home, still does her housework with the primitive tools used by her mother and grandmother. The peace will not have been won while such conditions persist. Electrification of the farms, a question now very much to the fore, would be a tremendous step towards the standard of living to which the rural woman, no less than the city woman, is entitled. The farm people, after all, are carrying on the Canadian branch of the world's most essential industry. The winning of the peace entails recognition of their proper place in our economic structure.
Veteran's affairs too will have to be put on a sound basis before the peace is won. And here— as in the case of farmer's affairs— we need only be followers, endorsing the demands of leaders who have worked out solutions and only ask support of their adoption. It is worthy of note that the veterans of this war, backed by the veterans of the last war, are more concerned about social security for ALL than with special concessions to themselves. One of the more encouraging signs of the times!
““an international habit of thought is the only proper one to bring to public affairs””
In discussions of all public matters— with neighbors, at informed gatherings, or in organizations— and every woman should belong to an organization of one kind or another— women should keep the ideal not only of a better Canada but of a better world before them. There are such questions as immigration… the expulsion of children from Alberta schools for refusal, on religious grounds, to salute the flag… the question of the ultimate disposal of Canadian-born Japanese… and many, many others… all to be studied and discussed with an international as well as national outlook if the solutions arrived at are to have any bearing on the winning of the peace. In fact an international habit of thought is the only proper one to bring to public affairs in view of the fact that the future peace of the world depends on friendly and co-operative international relationships. We women can— and should— rid ourselves of any consciousness of race superiority based on our British ancestry. All varieties of human nature undoubtedly exist in every race and, given a common language, the various groups could undoubtedly meet on common ground.
In conclusion may I remind you of a war fought in the early part of this century— a war in which the fruits of victory were lost— at least temporarily. I refer to the battles waged by Emmeline Pankhurst and her suffragettes from which they emerged victorious and placed the franchise in our hands. What have we done with it? Not a great deal— to date. How many women have we placed in the councils of the nations? In Britain? In Canada? Had we made a full and vigorous use of our vote might not the course of recent history have run differently? In the winning of the peace I think we must try to realize the vision of Emmeline Pankhurst which, we know, had women in more influential and powerful public offices than, so far, they have aspired to. The old Pankhurst spirit is enjoying a revival in England at the moment with women determined to have their equality with men fully recognized. We women in Canada might do well to follow their example. Anyway we are credited with having done a good job in helping to win the war. Let us do as much, or more, in the winning of the peace.
Notes from the Family
It’s unclear if this essay was ever published. It was found typewritten on five pieces of very thin paper, pinned together with a small needle. Given the language used in the essay, along with the lack of quality writing supplies (likely due to paper and metal rationing)—it was likely typed shortly after the end of the First World War in 1945.
Isa had a few strikethroughs and edits scratched on the paper, but the essay reads as though the editing process may have been abondoned.