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A Frank Analysis Hum an nature is the same the world over. In this age of in stan t communication, and travel to anywhere on earth, in hours, we are realizing how very much the same it is. Given identical situations hum an behavior p at terns invariably are alm ost alike, w ith persons of the same m ental level. Therefore the Free World was not as startled as was the totalitarian Kremlin by the accurate appraisal of its w riter, Mme. Irene Vilde of M arital Dis cord in R u ssia; and its cause. W riters are the conscience of the nation. They search for the tru th in everyday life, and ex haust the subject in th eir w rit ings. The U krainian w riter Irene Vilde is such a one. A native of W estern Ukraine, she received a W estern education, and started her w riting in the atm osphere of a democratic society. In 1944 the USSR took over W est U kraine; and since then she has been forced to modify her approach to literary prob lems. Many of her books are now forgotten. Some of them were actually re-published, w ith m ark ed changes to fit the p arty line. Finally, she was classed as among the few Ukrainian w rit ers recognized by the Russian Soviet regime. Recently she wrote an article about m arital discord in Uk raine. The long, b itter quarrels heard in communal apartm ent houses, she believes, originate in the follow ing:, (We quote from an article of H arry Schwarz in The New York Times, May 1, 1960): “The tendency of young people to marry in a hurry. The continuing housing short age, which obliges young coup les to live apart for periods after marriage. A tendency to take out at home, after work hours, the ten sions aroused on the job. Quarrels over the division of household work between husband and wife, both of whom have full-time jobs. Also jealousy, or drinking.” U tterly serious, and w ith her apprehension for th e welfare of her people genuine, Mrs. Vilde’s purpose, in her article, was to instruct and w arn women read ers. But in her intense anxiety she forgot th a t the m ethod of approaching this burning prob lem, a way so natural in a demo cratic society, would not be to lerated in a totalitarian one. The key p arty organ Partiynaya Zhizn (P arty Life) attacked her immediately, provoked by the fact th a t much of the m arital discord was a result of the orga nization of the Soviet society. B ut the tru th of her statem ents cannot be denied. The housing shortage, the ten sion on the jobs, the household work — each in USSR has its special aggravation. Such cir cumstances in Soviet life cannot be discovered by tourists, or even journalists, as they are not per m itted to contact the everyday life of the Soviet fam ily. Mrs. Vilde’s article indicates a very sore spot in Soviet life. Her intellectual honesty and courage m ay cost her dearly. The fate of other Communist w riters still haunts the memory of the world. The gifted Communist w riter Ting Ling, of Hunan pro vince, now subjected to two years of reform , through labor, at a desolate spot in th e north ern fringe of M anchuria is among them . Mrs. Vilde’s position as offic ial w riter and editor of the m ost popular women’s magazine in U kraine m ay be shattered by this article. F u rth er development of Russian Soviet polemics will show the result. W hatever the outcome the adm iration of the world for her noble intention to help settle the m arital discord between husband and wife creat ed by a totalitarian society’s un savory living conditions ought to be enough to halt any attem pt at reprisal against her. J. W. P. ICW BOARD MEETS IN PARIS The conference, in which we discussed special program s for the Triennial M eeting in Istanbul to be held August 22 through September 1, was well planned and very worthwhile. A respon sible committee to preparate the m eeting in conjunction w ith the new Turkish Council was ap pointed. B etter use of our Stand ing Committee work was urged w ith definite studies to be made in closer cooperation w ith related committees- Special studies of importance, decided by th e Board, will be executed by ex perts. Mme. Lefaucheux has re ceived a g ran t from UNESCO for a study to be made a fter the conference in Istanbul. A report was presented on efforts to help w ith the form ation of Councils in various countries. It is hoped th a t several other countries now in the process of form ing Coun cils will seek affiliation w ith the International Council of Women, joining w ith the seven new Coun cils to be voted on a t Istanbul. These new Councils will bring our total to 44 National Councils of Women. The agenda will include other subjects of concern. 1 6 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ — ЧЕРВЕНЬ, 1960 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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