Freedom of speech?

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old)

“Well done, I agree with you. It’s good to hear that some oldtimers in the group also agree with you too.  I think any democracy (and therefore unity in a democratic organisation) is reliant on people being able to constructively criticise its leaders (hence Tradition Nine  in AA) and their being able to constructively criticise any other destructive elements in it.  Key to this democracy and unity is the individual’s right to freedom of expression (this right and defence of it is expressed in Tradition One).  I think some good examples of this tradition in action can be found in AA Grapevine. Here’s a recent example, on the AA Grapevine 'What's On Your Mind Forum;' extracts from a reply to a newcomer’s questioning of his sponsor’s attitude:

“You need to remove a defective character, your so called sponsor ................ Glad you have seen that you have outgrown the jerk and are ready to move on. Glad you joined us”  (Extracts from Burning Desire to Share, 'Catholic….', Wed, 2013-03-27 08:18)

The good thing about AA Grapevine is that you get a wide range of the varying opinions in AA. I thought I’d put the following part of my above post which is hidden from view in this post, so the links in it will be easier to access:

Another good way to air your concerns is to write them in articles to Share Magazine. You can also do this in AA Grapevine (The International journal for Alcoholics Anonymous) and the AA Grapevine “What’s On Your Mind Forum” (I’m not sure if you need to subscribe to AA Grapevine to post on the forum or not, but you could contact AA Grapevine to find out. This sort of thing is very much the topic of conversation on the forums. I’d have a look at the AA Grapevine "What's On Your Mind forum", "New to AA” section first. I think I have seen newcomers having similar experiences to yourself.

If you would like air your views in Share Magazine, here’s the link to write articles to Share Magazine: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/Fellowship-Magazines/Share-Magazine

Link to AA Grapevine “What’s On Your Mind forum” http://www.aagrapevine.org/forums/i-say-forum

Link to AA Grapevine http://www.aagrapevine.org/

I agree with you entirely when you said “I believe we have a duty of care to protect the most vulnerable, and that means mainstream AA reaching out to the most vulnerable in the same way these extremists do.” This duty of care is a principle that runs throughout the Concepts, Traditions and guidelines.

Concept XII, Warranty Six: “..that care will be observed to respect and protect all minorities; that no action should ever be personally punitive;” and “…that our conference will be ever prudently be on guard against tyrannies great and small, whether these be found in the majority or in the minority.”

Concepts V, IX and XII can be found online in the AA Service Manual Combined with the Twelve Concepts for World Service: http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/en_bm-31.pdf and in the AA Service Handbook for Great Britain

Guideline 17, Personal Conduct matters can be found  in the AA service Handbook for Great Britain: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/download/1/Library/Documents/Guidelines-Handbook/Guidelines2011.pdf

I think what many don’t yet appreciate is that many newcomers who run into this type of sponsorship and don’t stay in AA, carry a negative message about their bad AA experience to their counsellors, doctors, friends, family. This has resulted in AA being accused of using cult like and bullying methods by some health professionals and this has been reported in national press. The Washington Post article on today’s aacultwatch blog (Fri 22nd March) about the controversy that is going on in AA is another example of how this fundamentalist neo Oxford Group/ Big Book Study cult is splitting AA and damaging public relations. Maybe if there was more awareness of the harmful effect this cult is having on AA public relations, then more people in AA might be more concerned and then be more actively involved in protecting newcomers and AA itself.”

Comment: You're best bet if you really want to sound off (and avoid excessive censorship) is What's On Your Mind (the US based forum): http://www.aagrapevine.org/forums/i-say-forum. They don't seem to have a problem with members airing their views even if they don't fit with the 'conventional wisdom' current in AA unlike GB which shut down the only official AA forum we had (conference questions) because (and we quote): "The 2013 forum seemed to encourage the wrong type of debate [we kid you not!] and does not encourage unity especially on a public facing site which could bring AA into disrepute." - the "wrong type of debate" being anything which had not been reduced to its most absolutely anodyne form prior to publication (see Share magazine for plentiful examples of the latter style). 

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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