Excerpts from Dr. Sun Jin Moon’s Keynote Address at the Midwest Launch of the Global Women’s Peace Network in Chicago

Beloved, esteemed, and exemplary women leaders who hold the highest positions around the globe,

Welcome to the GWPN 2019 conference, here in the great city of Chicago!  We gather here today to embark on a revolutionary new path, opening an era where “Women are the turning point for peace.” 

As we launch the Global Women’s Peace Network here in the Midwest Region, I would like to convey to you the heartfelt best wishes, love and congratulations from our founder and leader, and my personal superhero and amazing mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. 

During the inaugural WFWP Global Women’s Peace Network Conference in Las Vegas in 2012, I had the honor of delivering the founder’s address on behalf of Mother Moon. I am moved by the growth of GWPN throughout the world since that time and I am excited that it is taking substantial form here in the heartland of America. I believe we are standing on the proud legacy and shoulders of the 27 year history of WFWP’s accomplishments as a movement that has expanded globally, with established, highly-respected peace chapters in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, Oceania, and Asia. 

As I look out on this audience, I am very impressed, seeing so many people from diverse backgrounds gathered. Not only women, but also men, from different religious, ethnic, racial, professional, and cultural backgrounds.

I want to acknowledge the presence of many of the leaders of our host organization, Women’s Federation for World Peace, including Mrs. Angelika Selle, President of WFWP USA, and others.

I also want to thank Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, the Chairman of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA. You have all done a magnificent job preparing for this event. 

As many of you know, my parents, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, devoted their lives to promoting a vision of universal peace based on the principle of living for the sake of others. They continuously spoke of creating one family under God, a world in which we all live together as brothers and sisters, members of one global family who share a common origin in God, our Heavenly Parent. For 52 years, working tirelessly side by side, my parents devoted themselves steadfastly to their global mission to bring peace to this world, and to bring an end to the suffering of all 7.7 billion people on earth. Father and Mother Moon have united people from all across the globe, guided by their vision of peace, universal values, interdependence, and mutual prosperity for all generations to come. 

I am deeply honored and proud to serve with all of you in advancing this great legacy of peace. I am equally proud to serve in supporting and carrying forward my Mother’s foundation, opening a new era in which the long awaited shift towards balance and dignity for all womankind and families shall be realized.

However, in order to achieve that goal, we must understand from where we came and where we stand today. So where did we begin? What is our origin? How were you created? I think we can all agree on one thing: we all are here because of our parents, our mother and our father, and before them our grandparents, and before them our ancestral generations, all dating back, according to DNA records, to Africa more than 200,000 years ago; in fact it seems we may all derive from a single “Mitochondrial Eve” in Africa.

We can also consider biblical chronology or the 6,000 years of biblical history. According to the teachings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, our roots may be traced back to Adam and Eve. Whether or not you believe in science or religion, we were each conceived by a mother and a father, two equal halves -- male and female -- of one united whole. 

But, who created Adam and Eve? Some may say it was the Big Bang and a course of natural selection over time. Some may say we originate from Heavenly Parent, God, Allah, etc. -- a divine being.

Are we merely cosmic dust or are we children of God?  Well, in reality, we may be both. That is, it may not be only one or the other. The unimaginably powerful force and the explosive energy of a Big Bang may have been caused by a divine being of true love in order to prepare a foundation to conceive life on earth.

Regardless of what we believe about our origins, we are all undeniably here. And this leads to another question, that is, why are we here? Why do any of us live our lives? Is it just to live and die, without love, or meaning or purpose? I don’t think so. We all aspire for something greater.

Regardless of our religion, race, status, gender, make or mold, we all strive to find love, create joy, happiness, goodness, positive relationships and give and take partnerships with family, friends, communities, and with creatures large and small. We aspire to live in harmony and beauty with creation. This is our ideal, right?

Actually, the reason we all hope and dream to live for a life filled with love, joy, oneness, and peace, is because we inherited that desire from God. In other words, having such a dream is not only our dream, but it is a dream rooted in the original character and heart of our Creator. We are like God in wanting to build a world of love, peace, goodness and harmony.

However, although love is the explosive transcending energy that empowers and inspires all of us and creation, can we say that this current world reflects or manifests this original ideal? 

Sadly, we know that the answer is no. Everywhere we look we see that humanity is divided, and the divisions seem to be growing exponentially wider. Sometimes it seems like we are living in a nightmare rather than a peace-loving dream. We see inequity, ignorance, and division tear apart our homes, schools, workplaces, governments, churches, and institutions. Communities, families, and individuals are so often separated, segregated, incarcerated, and diminished. Tragically, many of our brothers and sisters are driven by hate, deep seated historical rage, often fed by unjust persecution, violence and brutality. We observe the highest rates of gun violence and tragic mass shootings, making America a battleground zero. Beyond America’s walls are also global walls of nationalism which replace global cooperation. We see trade wars and economic instability, sanctions, threats of war, refugee crises, religious intolerance, corruption, poverty, mass migration, and endless suffering mounting up, with no peaceful solution in sight.  

At the same time, we also hear the valiant cries and voices of courageous women speaking out -- Me Too and Time’s Up -- taking a stand against domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and inequity against women. And yet, despite all their courageous efforts, globally and domestically, violence and inequity against women remains a sad reality.

[...] God’s creation is being devastated by mass extinction of plant and animal species, and the earth is drowning in the deluge of historical record-breaking floods not seen in 500 years. Storms, fires, and plagues of deadly new strains of bacteria and viruses threaten our survival.  Globally we face a climate crisis that represents an existential threat for all of us, and for generations to come.

[...] We are at odds globally, tearing apart the very fabric that binds humanity and creation together, and at the very time when we need to unite more than ever, we have lost sight of the only solution to all these divisions. The solution requires that we turn our hearts and minds to God. We must recover and understand the divine truth that we are all one global family under our Heavenly Parent. Only when we can realize this absolute truth can we even begin to take the necessary steps toward healing, aid, service, restoration, reconciliation and the affirmation of the basic human rights and dignity that every man, woman, child, and creation are endowed with by God.

We have tipped the scales of humanity’s future off the charts. We are so out of balance, leaning so far left and so far right. We must reverse this trend, and re-establish the harmony and balance that manifests the love and order of God. Within God there is order, balance and universal love. It was with this in mind that my Father taught about going beyond left wing and right wing ideas in order to embrace “God wing” or “head wing” consciousness. My Father taught us that this was the only way out of endless conflict, struggle and war. Consider the following quote:

Only Godism, or Head-Wing Thought, or Unification Thought ― with its spirit of promoting love for others from the perspective of a God-centered view of values ― can overcome the hatred, hostility, and materialism of Communism, the left-wing ideology, and eradicate the egoism and self-centeredness of democracy, the right-wing ideology. This will go far to reconcile these two opposing wings and can guide people on both sides to advance together toward the realization of an ideal world, a long-cherished desire of both God and humankind. [...]

WFWP was founded to announce the arrival of what my parents termed the “Era of Women,” calling on all women to play a more pivotal role in making peace a reality. After all, just as in any family, a true mother’s nurturing and unconditionally loving heart has the power to heal the deep wounds of humanity that we witness today. Indeed, since the time that WFWP was founded, the world has seen great advancement in women’s equality and their contribution to peace. But there is still so very much to do. So, I want you to know that I am excited to stand and work with each and every one of the great women leaders in this room. I sincerely believe we can and will make peace a reality and save this world. 

I would like to share with you some words from my Father’s memoirs, entitled, A Peace-Loving Global Citizen. In this excerpt he speaks about his dream of peace, the same dream that my beloved and courageous Mother has carried forward throughout her own life, especially since the time of his passing. It is this dream, this vision that has brought us all together in this great peace forum today: 

The Women’s Federation for World Peace, which she established in 1992, has branches in some ninety countries and is in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations as a nongovernmental organization.

Throughout history, women have been persecuted, but I predict this will change. The coming world will be one of reconciliation and peace based on women’s maternal character, love, and sociability. The time is coming when the power of women will save the world.

Unfortunately, today, many women’s organizations apparently believe that standing in opposition to men is the way to demonstrate the power of women. The result is an environment of competition and conflict. The women’s organizations my wife leads, on the other hand, seek to bring about peace on the principle that women should work together, take initiative, and empower one another across traditional lines of race, culture, and religion to create healthy families as the cornerstone of the culture of peace. The organizations she works with do not call for a liberation of women from men and families. Instead, they call for women to develop and maintain families filled with love. My wife’s dream is to see all women raised as true daughters with filial hearts who can create peace at home, in our communities, in our nations, and in the world. The women’s movement being carried out by my wife serves the goal of true families, which are the root of peace in all areas of life.

Wow, what an amazing vision my Father had. He foresaw the great works my Mother would carry out!  

For a man born in North Korea in the 1920s, he was a revolutionary thinker; he understood the true eternal, divine nature, and gift from God that womankind is to the world. He exalts the true role of women as an essential source of all life, love, lineage, unity, oneness, and peace in the family, society, nation and world! He even prophesied that “The time is coming when the power of women will save the world!” That is revolutionary!

For too long, the voice of women remained in the background and in the shadows. Whatever the causes of this pattern, evidenced in all cultures and civilizations, it is imbalanced, and hence the world is also out of balance. Indeed, it is precisely as women and men live together in harmony, true love, and equality -- in the home, in the workplace, in the centers of political and economic power, and in the places of worship -- that we can create a society of true interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal love. 

It is time for the voices of women, the perspectives of women, the wisdom of women, and the capacities of women to be included, welcomed, and encouraged.

[...] If we are to change and transform a world of selfishness into a world of true love, women must play a leading role. And I am not talking merely about external power. We must first master the arts of internal power, the power of unconditional, absolute, true love.

Much of what is needed today is to have a movement of harmonizers and reconcilers. Basically we need super moms! We need to bridge gaps and divisions, between men and women, parents and children, between the right and the left.

The world also needs its heart healed. Centuries of injustice and hurt take a toll on everyone; every man, woman and child. But before we can be healers and transformers, we must be healed and transformed ourselves, with forgiveness, love and unity, with and through each other. And ultimately we need God to do this. 

I did not always realize this point. I grew up in a super religious home, but I didn’t always resonate with religion. It was only later that I came to a deeper understanding of God by understanding my parents’ teachings, and by observing their lifestyle and example. They have always lived for the sake of others. I barely saw them as I was growing up -- maybe one month out of a year -- due to their global ministry and continual speaking tours. As a child, I resented their global mission because it took away my only parents. I could not understand how they could leave our family. What I’ve come to realize, however, is that they were serving other families around the globe. I came to realize that, through their ministry, even though it meant I could not always be with them, I received the blessing of inheriting a global family of brothers and sisters who live with true love, live for the sake of others and work tirelessly to make peace a reality for all life and creation.

Nowadays, children look up to superheroes like Marvel or DC comics. However, when I think of true heroes, I think of my parents. They are my true heavenly superheroes. When I asked them why they took such a difficult path, they say that humankind alone, without God, will never achieve peace. They were called to awaken the world to God’s truth and God’s love. 

Peace begins with the divine truth that every human being is a child of God. If that becomes an undeniable truth, felt in the hearts of every human being, then there can be no conflict, division, inequality, hatred, fear, resentment, and war. If we see God in all life on earth, in humankind and creation, we are not able to destroy a single blade of grass or harm a hair on a newborn child’s head. Only when God is your compass and your true conscience can peace become a reality. 

[...] I know that Mother Moon wants all the women of the world to realize and know their own unique value as God’s divine daughters. When our founders established WFWP in April 1992, they spoke of the core principles and values we must follow if we are to build a world of lasting peace. In particular, they emphasized the value of true love embodied in the hearts and in the character of mothers, wives, grandmothers, and daughters.

They also asked us not only to think of women’s rights, but exhorted us to serve the rights and welfare of all people. They encouraged us to work to build true families on a foundation of true love centered on God. They called us to educate, mentor and support women leaders and to encourage women all around the world to be initiators of peace by practicing true love and living for the sake of others.

The following is a quote from Mother Moon that encapsulates her vision for women and peacebuilders:

Enlightened women are the center of the love, peace and service that preserve the family, and a sound, healthy family is the school of love and virtue. The starting point of world peace lies with the mothers at the center of such families, families that perfect and bring to fruition God's true love. We must all push ahead in the conviction that no matter how wounded and scarred this world becomes, it can be healed and cleansed by the substantial work of a WFWP united in the vision of God's true love.

WFWP has accomplished a great deal worldwide, but we still have work to do. Through the Global Women’s Peace Network, our founders have asked us to go one step further toward bringing sustainable peace on earth. This is not something that can be accomplished by one NGO alone. 

We need to work on a broader scale, networking with like-minded organizations, with governments and NGOs and individual leaders of the world, all working together for peace. This is the mission of the Global Women’s Peace Network. Today with the launching of the Global Women’s Peace Network in the Midwest Region, we are taking another step towards fulfilling that goal.

Together, let us work to make a more beautiful world of peace. Following the example of our founders, let us all transform this world and move forward, creating a spiritual and cultural revolution of heart, working together, learning together and loving together until we have brought peace to everyone.

Once again, congratulations! Let’s work together to create a transcendent, glorious, culture of peace, here in the United States and beyond!  As my father stated, “The time (is here) when the power of women will save this world!”

I pray that God’s blessings and eternal love be with you and your families! Thank you very much! Namaste.