World Can't Wait

What People Are Saying About World Can't Wait

Your hard work for justice and strong stand against the horrible policies of our government, is always inspiring to me.
Rich

I believe WCW is providing an invaluable service.  My senior year of high school, I almost enlisted. A few pesky pounds were my life saver, though I didn’t know it at the time.  Had there been an organization like WCW around then, I would have never contemplated enlistment.
Elizabeth

"Humanity and the Planet Come First." This is both a political and theological truth that needs our attention and actions. Please join me in supporting The World Can't Wait for its commitment and passion to justice and a world without war.
Rev. Loren McGrail, Coordinator for Protest Chaplains of Chicago

As a Christian and as a pastor, I give thanks for the public witness of World Can't Wait in calling people to a sense of self so much larger than political parties or national citizenship. World Can't Wait reminds us of the simple and undeniable fact that we are all members of one human family, and that what affects any of us affects all of us. When confronted by systems of violence, domination and oppression people of faith and people of conscience have a moral responsibility to resist violence and protect those least able to protect themselves. Our power to do so does not end with the casting of ballots, but includes forms of resistance that should be familiar to people of faith: testimony, lament, marches and other forms of direct action that transform our privately held hopes and prayers into mass movements for social change.
Rev. Erik Christensen; Pastor, St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, Chicago

I have had the honor of working and organizing with Stephanie Tang from World Can't Wait in whom I not only found a great ally but a wonderful human being and friend. Over the past decade, I've become very well aware of the complexities and ideological differences amongst the various antiwar leftist groups here in the US and I've seen a lot of falling out, splintering and divisions. We don't have to agree on everything ideologically in order to come together on principles that we mutually agree upon. For example, several groups/movements such as Afghans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, World Can't Wait and several Bay Area Occupies were able to come together in a powerful way and shutdown the US military recruitment center in Fremont as a protest to the Panjwai massacre this past March. This type of solidarity work is critical in order to stop the powerful machinery we are up against.
Fatima Afghan (Afghans for Peace - Bay Area)

World Can't Wait is, in my opinion, cutting edge Justice seeking.  No, not in my opinion, in my EXPERIENCE.  Who got me tickets to confront Rumsfeld....not once, but twice?  World Can't Wait, that's who.  Who can rally young folks — not so much by word but by example?  World Can't Wait, that's who.

And, just generally, who can do?  World Can't Wait; that's who can do!  My friendships with the folks of World Can't Wait are one of my most treasured blessings as we go our way together, or separately, to spread some truth around.
Ray McGovern

I support World Can't Wait. Why? In this season of political campaigns, some want to tailor the truth about justice to fit their political candidate or party.  Not World Can't Wait. When the politician, like the king in the nursery story, isn't wearing any clothes, World Can't Wait will say he or she is buck naked. They tell the truth no matter what. They deserve our support.
Bill Quigley

It's just been in the last year or so, as our upstate New York campaign to ground the reaper drone at Hancock Air Base has been gaining momentum, that I've had the opportunity to work with Debra and World Can't Wait. Debra moderated our drone workshop at NYC's Left Forum; she came to Syracuse to help kickstart our drone teach-in; she was out there in the streets in Chicago to challenge NATO....I'm sensing she's everywhere and tireless. I'm impressed with Debra's grasp of the killer robot drone issue, but it's a grasp deeply imbedded in a broad and knowing and heartfelt analysis of U.S. imperialism and militarism.
Ed Kinane

Consider donating to support the heart of the anti-war movement. If you really oppose this war in Afghanistan, if you really want an end to permanent occupation in Iraq, send money to the people ensuring there are regular protests throughout this nation.
Kevin Gozstola

The World Can't Wait focuses on the crimes of the US government, beyond party bias, including parasitic recruiting for wars and a war economy, and the arbitrary detention of prisoners at Guantanamo, who are about to mark the 10th anniversary of their imprisonment, for the most part without charge or trial.
Andy Worthington

As Americans increasingly turn away from news of war with feelings that range from hopeless to despair over their government's murderous drone strikes, war crimes that are normalized and accepted basis for unwarranted invasions, The World Can't Wait is like our voice crying in the wilderness - STOP! Debra Sweet's steadfastness is an anchor of courage and conviction remembering us to care, to not let our friends and neighbors slip away from the struggle. Sustaining World Can't Wait is supporting hope for why else would World Can't Wait continue to expose the depravity of the military attacks and our debased national politics that assumes we all want more killing more war!
Kathleen Barry, Author of Unmaking War, Remaking Men: How Empathy Can Reshape our Politics, Our Soldiers and Ourselves.

World Can't Wait is a powerful force in the dynamic landscape of reproductive justice! From organizing activists across country to timely newsletters with critical analysis of the abortion debate, WCW is at the heart of ensuring women's freedoms in our country. Debra Sweet passionately works to bring together activists, providers, and artists to embolden our movement. Together, Debra and I have stood together in Germantown, Maryland and Omaha, Nebraska with inspiring displays of resistance! We have spoken together at the 2011 National NOW Conference about abortion rights. We have collaborated in creating the film, Abortion, Morality, and the Liberation of Women, featuring Sunsara Taylor and Dr. Susan Wickland. World Can't Wait is at the heart of women speaking out - boldly, proudly, and without apologies!
Heather Ault, Founder of 4000 Years for Choice

Many of us now understand we cannot just delegate the tasks of remedying U.S. government violence to politicians. We need to get personally involved, get out into the streets, and take a stand!

That's a tall order and it's hard to do it alone. Leadership, encouragement, organization, and camaraderie are a must. That's why I've found World Can't Wait so important. Week in, week out, World Can't Wait is out in front, showing us we can resist the misdeeds of our government.

I'm determined to stick with it, and I'm counting on World Can't Wait to be right there with me, saying, "You can do it!"
Joe Scarry

I appreciate working with World Can't Wait because it takes on torture, war crimes, the persecution of Bradley Manning, drones, stop and frisk by the New York City Police and other abuses of power in a very clear, aggressive way. It is a small organization that has a big impact because the WCW people are highly responsive, imaginative and reliable in their commitment to each other and their allies.
Nick Mottern, director Consumers for Peace and kNOw Drones

Well indeed, The World Can't Wait! All around us are governments, agencies, organizations, as well as religious groups working diligently and systematically to curb the rights of all Americans, especially those of women.

I was lucky enough to meet someone I had admired for years, Debra Sweet, at this year's National NOW (National Organization for Women) Convention. Our local NOW group instantly declared Debra our newest BFF, and invited her to Melbourne to speak before a large group of interested people regarding a variety of "rights" issues including women's reproductive rights. We all agreed it was our best meeting to date.

Then during the summer, a few of us travelled to Germantown, MD to take part in the Summer of Trust, Summer Celebration of Choice. We stood outside a clinic in Maryland and defended Dr. Leroy Carhart, one of the few remaining doctors in this country who will perform a late-term abortion. We stood face to face with Operation Rescue. It was a mind-opening experience dealing with the parochial and bigoted views of the "anti-choice" movement. However, the "plus" was our reunion with members of The World Can't Wait, especially Debra. Personally, I came away from that more determined than ever to stand up for women's rights.

And when we received an email from Debra to join her in Washington, DC next month to stand before the Supreme Court and remind them of a woman's legal right to terminate a pregnancy, I immediately said "hell yes!". Looking forward to shivering in the cold in Washington in 2012 as we, again, remind our government that The World Can't Wait to regain our rights as citizens of the USA.
Laura Fausone, Legislative Director, Brevard NOW

World Can't Wait (WCW) cuts to the roots of social injustice and organizes uncompromising, compassionate and effective actions. Their work channels American citizens' outrage in constructive ways that bear results. The organization has a deep understanding of the sources of the unrest Americans feel in our daily lives, and rouses citizens from desperate feelings of learned helplessness, into the elation of becoming first-person participants of democracy.

The work WCW does has visible benefits for society. The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, which was largely set in motion and maintained by WCW, has created a window for the public's questioning of political assumptions. OWS supports Americans by reminding us "we are not alone" in our feelings of dissent. It offers a re-affirmation of Americans' denigrated need for critical thinking by strengthening our feelings of self and communal identities; giving the disenfranchised the support, language and awareness needed to defend themselves from the onslaught of propaganda and economic attacks from the oppressive elites.

WCW's work creates an atmosphere that tells people it's okay to do the right thing. For example, see Judge Jed Rakoff's ruling that a plan by the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle a securities fraud case against Citigroup for $285 million was “neither fair, nor reasonable, nor adequate, nor in the public interest” It's hard to imagine the American climate was supportive of such a just ruling even six months ago, pre-OWS. The press is reporting on other indications of the OWS movement's impact. And I could go on giving examples of positive change WCW has created in our unjust, even frightening world.

Looking to 2012 and beyond, I feel reassured by WCW's presence in the American community. I will continue to participate in their actions and fundraisers knowing that working with WCW amplifies the effect my activism has on the world. If you feel like the powerful have so much power there's no way to stop them from exploiting you, your loved ones and your neighbors, here or around the world, I encourage you to join World Can't Wait. By pooling our talents, enthusiasm and courage WCW enables Americans to re-create a just, equitable world eased of suffering we can be proud to pass on to our children.
Holly Anagnos

I find the most authentic, principled organization is World Can't Wait... they have been consistent with their message no matter who is president.
Cindy Sheehan

I love you all - Debra Sweet and Company - for the work you do... I will give as soon as I am solvent again and meanwhile, thank you - - thank you for all that you do, for how much you care, for all of your efforts and hard work and for raising your voices and helping us be informed and aware so we can raise ours, too.  World Can't Wait is a remarkable organization.

The world does NOT have to be this way.  This earth has all the ingredients for an Eden, and probably once was,  and can be again.  We all just have to stay involved and stay strong and not give up or lose hope that all the corruption is impossible to stand up to.

You do tireless work, and I am astonished at your steadfastness.  Thank you, so much, for everything the organizers at World Can't Wait are doing.

Sincerely and with gratitude -
Rebecca M.

World Can't Wait was right about the crimes of Bush and Cheney and it is right about Obama's "military solution" for Afghanistan.
Ralph Nader

Debra, thank you for your enormous efforts. I can't tell you how much it means to mean to know there is a group espousing what I have been saying (to my 250 people email list and in a monthly ezine) since right after Obama was elected and I noted who he was putting in his administration. Your "Crimes are Crimes..." is the sad reality that so many do not want to face which  see as the reason for the lack of a real movement at the moment. I am down to very few friends but I at least know you are there. So thank you.
Dorothy

Just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to come speak to my classes. It may have been hard to tell, without having a "barometer" of sorts in this environment, but take my word that the students were far more engaged than is usual. It sparked some really important discussion, and I am grateful for that. Too often, these outrages are muddled over as "really complicated" if they are not completely ignored. In this light, I especially appreciated your point about how these things are not any less outrageous simply because they have been going on for so long now and have taken on some 'normalcy' with many. It was refreshing (for me and the  kids) to see someone come in with both expertise and moral conviction to call out these crimes of the government...It was a powerful example of what is so very needed right now!
Teacher

I've been a recipient of World Cant Wait's newsletters for almost 4 years now. Slowly I've become involved in the movement to stop the war. (The reason for this being slow is personal and has nothing to do with World Can't Wait.) It is thanks to World Can't Wait's leadership, organization, and activism that I have been able to do so. The newsletters keep me well informed consistently, and the local activism is a way to have my voice-our voices-heard.
 
You are the director of all of this and I think you should be proud. YOU are helping to get the people together. To resist the lying oppressive forces and leaders and systems we live with and, ultimately, end the war!

You’re doing a great job. Keep up the good work! Thanks for your consistency, updates, and activism. You and the movement you've built are inspirational!
Ashley Bradshaw
 
Rarely do you find a grassroots activist group willing to take consistent principled positions based on listening to the concerns of a wide segment of the population, with no hint of contamination by money, power, or partisanship.  Rarely do you find an organization able to consistently mobilize significant numbers of people into action.  Very rarely do you find groups able to work well with other groups in coalitions.  Rarest of all is a campaign that unites all three of these things and does so consistently and unrelentingly over a period of years, bringing inspiration to people struggling against defeatism and resignation.  The best example of this on the national scene is the World Can't Wait, and the primary reason for that is Debra Sweet.
David Swanson

I think World Can't Wait offers a valuable service in expressing opinions and providing arguments largely ignored by the mass media.
William

On Michael Moore (?) I saw a roomful of people in a Kansas library watching Ethan show the video.  On Democracy Now I saw a roomful of people in Iraq gathered around a laptop watching it.  I think it's incredibly powerful to see people watching Collateral Murder, a room at a time.   I can imagine a bulletin board of photos of people watching the video.  Suddenly it's real, it comes home, I can imagine the world changing a room at a time.

I personally recoil from watching Collateral Murder, yet I stare at pictures of people watching it and feel hopeful.

Thank you all for what you're doing.
Kerstin