Extracts
from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch
under thread: “aacultwatch forum daily reflections”
“Our
Traditions are set down on paper. But they were written first in our
hearts. For each of us knows, instinctively, I think, that AA is not
ours to do with as we please. We are but caretakers to preserve the
spiritual quality of our Fellowship; keep it whole for those who will
come after us and have need of what has been so generously been given
to us… … … So the hour has come when you must take these things
into your own keeping. We ask that you guard them well, for the
future of Alcoholics Anonymous may much depend on how you maintain
and support these life - giving arms of service.” Bill W. (AA Grapevine November 1950, Language of the Heart page 124)
“Now
there are certain things that AA cannot do for anybody, regardless of
what our several desires or sympathies may be.
Our
first duty, as a society is to ensure, our own survival. Therefore we
have to avoid distractions and multipurpose activity. An AA group as
such, cannot take on all the personal problems of its members, let
alone the problems of the whole world. Sobriety – freedom from
alcohol – though the teaching and practice of AA’s twelve steps,
is the sole purpose of an AA group. Groups have repeated tried other
activities they have always failed. We have to confine our membership
to alcoholics and we have to confine our AA groups to a single
purpose. If we don’t stick to these principles, we shall almost
certainly collapse. And if we collapse, we cannot help anyone … …
… … Therefore
I see no way of making nonalcoholic addicts into AA members,
Experience says loudly that we can admit no exceptions, even though
drug users and alcoholics happen to be first cousins of a sort. If we
persist in trying this, I’m afraid it will be hard on the drug user
himself, as well as on AA. We must accept the fact that no
nonalcoholic, whatever his affliction, can be converted into an
alcoholic AA member.” - Bill W. (A.A. Grapevine February 1958. Language of the Heart page 223)
“He
said he was an alcoholic too… … a chemistry professor who was
barely managing to hold on to his teaching post. He had come to
the Oxford Group at his wife’s urging, but he could not stand their
‘nonsensical’ talk about God, nor did he like all these
‘aggressive people’ who were trying to save his soul. And
while he could not accept Bill’s ‘weird’ religious
experience, he certainly did agree with what Bill said about
alcoholism… …he stayed drunk on and off for 11 years before
finally getting sober in the A.A. program.” (Pass It On page 132)
“Finally,
I am often asked why I do not publicly acknowledge my very real debt
of gratitude to the Oxford Group. The answer is that, unfortunately,
a vast and sometimes unreasoning prejudice exists all over this
country against the O.G. and its successor M.R.A. My dilemma is that
if I make such an acknowledgement, I may establish a connection
between the O. G. and Alcoholics Anonymous which does not exist at
the present time. I had to ask myself which was more important: that
the O.G. receive credit and that I have the pleasure of so
discharging my debt of gratitude, or that alcoholics everywhere have
the best possible chance to stay alive regardless of who gets
credit.” - Bill W. (Pass It On page 173)"
(our
emphases)
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
