Time for AA to wake up! An AA member's analysis

"Ultimately the solution to this lies in awareness and action by intergroups. I think that at the moment the fellowship is still in the stage of waking up to implications as to what is happening. I think this movement represents the beginning of all the ingredients of what Bill W. outlined in concept XII, warranty five, the grave situation of a split running right accross AA and the formation of a separate fellowship, with the exception that this new separate fellowship has no intention of separating, so the onus is on AA to insist on conformity to tradition four or initiate the separation. The concept is clear that such a situation demands action. The longer this movement is left alone , the more damaging to AA it will be.

Why the primary purpose approach to carrying the message is not AA, is summed up quite nicely in the the words of both Bill W and Dr. Bob:

" A very tough minded prospect was taken to his first AA meeting, where two speakers (or maybe lecturers) themed their talks on "God as I understand Him." Their attitude oozed arrogance. In fact, the final speaker got far overboard on his personal theological convictions. Both were repeating my performance of years before. Implicit in everything they said was the same idea: "Folks, listen to us. We have the only true brand of AA- and you'd better get it!" The new prospect said he'd had it- and he had. His sponsor protested that this wasn't real AA. But it was too late; nobody could touch him after that." (Bill W.) from: Arrogance and its opposite, Page 199, As Bill Sees It.

"As finally expressed and offered, they (the twelve steps) are simple in language, plain in meaning. They are also workable by any person having a sincere desire to obtain and keep sobriety. The results are proof. Their simplicity and workability are such that no special interpretations and certainly no reservations have ever been necessary......" (Dr. Bob) from: Dr. Bob and The Good Old Timers, page 227.

I think the message here in the words of Bill W and Dr. Bob are that the interpretations of the AA progamme, published on the internet and by ego driven indivualists such as Mess'rs Dick B, Wally P, Joe MacQ, Cliff B and Myers R are perhaps best used to kindle a bonfire.

Keep up the good work"