“Section
6
Examination
of the difference between minority groups minority opinions, a
tyranny of very small minorities.
There
appears to be some confusion between protecting minority groups,
minority opinion and protecting against a tyranny of very small
minorities.
Minority
groups are described in “Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers” in
chapter XIX, page 239, “Minority groups within A.A. gain
acceptance.” The protection of minorities such as these, provided
by Warranty Six refers to the all inclusive A.A. membership for the
individual alcoholic under Tradition Three. Minority opinion is described in Concept V (. It is clear in A.A. Tradition that that the protection of
the minority groups and of minority opinion does not extend to
minorities forming special purpose groups, nor does it bear any
relation to minority groups with malign dictatorships, who are in
violation of Tradition 4. AA members who gather together as groups
with a dual purpose or affiliation are described in “Language of
the Heart” pages 222-225. A.A. Tradition and warranties of
Conference serve to protect the A.A. name against such minority
groups.
Any
society which is indifferent to the abuse of the vulnerable is
destined to corruption and collapse sooner or later, A.A. will be no
exception unless the safeguards already available are put in place to
prevent it. For a cult groups to exist in A.A. such as the Joys of
Recovery, is not acceptable. It shows an immoral failure of duty of
care, a failure of Traditions, Concepts and warranties of conference;
especially Traditions One, Two,Concepts IX, XII (warranties 5 and 6).
Generally
how exclusive have A.A. meetings become? Doctors and lawyers
meetings, women’s meetings, gay meetings; and the host of meetings
with very strange titles. Of course, anyone is welcome, except those
baffled newcomers who don’t know, who at first point of contact
with A.A., might feel excluded simply by the title’s insinuation on
the meetings list. Here leadership could be exercised.”
Comment:
Now a BDSM AA(?) meeting can be added to the list of “special
purpose” groups.
All
such groups simply serve to emphasise how “special and different”
their members are from the remainder of the fellowship. Alcoholics
don't drink the way they drink because they're: female/male,
black/brown/white, gay/straight, young/old, newcomers/old timers, of
this profession/of that profession etc. We drink the way we drink
because we're “powerless over alcohol” - it's that simple! The
whole basis of these groups contradicts the injunction frequently
directed towards newcomers – look for the similarities not the
differences! Moreover a frequent defence offered on the part of
“special purpose” groups is that the rest of wouldn't identify
with their concerns. If these groups are adhering to their sole and
“primary purpose” then the rest of us alcoholics should have no
problem understanding at all! If they are not then what on earth are
they talking about? Logically (and absurdly) the only outcome that
can follow from the extension of this principle is a fellowship
composed of a multiplicity of groups composed of one member each, and
having, no doubt, a most engaging conversation with him or herself! In
other words – no fellowship at all!
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
