Yep!
Just when you thought we'd exhausted the conference questions we
now have Conference 2013! Beginning with:
Question
1:
Review
the draft Service Handbook of Alcoholics Anonymous, Great
Britain.
Background
Draft Service Structure Handbook of Alcoholics Anonymous, Great Britain
Draft can be found at:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/members/index.cfm?PageID=98&&DocumentTypeID=8263
Background
Draft Service Structure Handbook of Alcoholics Anonymous, Great Britain
Draft can be found at:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/members/index.cfm?PageID=98&&DocumentTypeID=8263
Consider
the contribution to the carrying of the message, financial and
practical implications when deliberating each question.
See
also:
Extracts:
“I
would like to suggest an amendment to the Draft Service Handbook
Alcoholics Anonymous, Great Britain, page 36, Chapter Three: AA and
Electronic Communications.
Bill W’s 1960 AA Grapevine quote as it reads in the draft:
“A vast communications net now covers the earth, even to its remotest reaches... nothing matters more to AA's future welfare than the manner in which we use the colossus of modern communication. Used unselfishly and well, it can produce results surpassing our present imagination.”
" ..the colossus of modern communication..." should read "..this colossus of modern communication..." according to the AA Grapevine article as it is published in 'The Language of the Heart.'
The passage used in this quotation has been edited and taken out of context with the paragraphs in which it was written by Bill in the 1960 AA Grapevine. This presents an unbalanced and misleading half truth of what he wrote. I would therefore like to see this quotation changed to give the full meaning of what Bill W. intended. The quote changed to read as follows:
"A vast communications net now covers the earth, even to its remotest reaches. Granting all its huge public benefits, this limitless world forum is nevertheless a hunting ground for all those who would seek money, acclaim and power at the expense of society in general. Here the forces of good and evil are locked in struggle. All that is shoddy and destructive contests all that is best.
Bill W’s 1960 AA Grapevine quote as it reads in the draft:
“A vast communications net now covers the earth, even to its remotest reaches... nothing matters more to AA's future welfare than the manner in which we use the colossus of modern communication. Used unselfishly and well, it can produce results surpassing our present imagination.”
" ..the colossus of modern communication..." should read "..this colossus of modern communication..." according to the AA Grapevine article as it is published in 'The Language of the Heart.'
The passage used in this quotation has been edited and taken out of context with the paragraphs in which it was written by Bill in the 1960 AA Grapevine. This presents an unbalanced and misleading half truth of what he wrote. I would therefore like to see this quotation changed to give the full meaning of what Bill W. intended. The quote changed to read as follows:
"A vast communications net now covers the earth, even to its remotest reaches. Granting all its huge public benefits, this limitless world forum is nevertheless a hunting ground for all those who would seek money, acclaim and power at the expense of society in general. Here the forces of good and evil are locked in struggle. All that is shoddy and destructive contests all that is best.
Therefore
nothing can matter more to the future welfare of AA than the manner
in which we use this colossus of communication. Used unselfishly and
well, the results can surpass our present imagination. Should we
handle this great instrument badly, we shall be shattered by the ego
demands of our own people--often with the best of intention on their
part.”
The 1960 AA Grapevine article is published in full in ‘The Language of the Heart’, the above quotation on pages 319-320. “
The 1960 AA Grapevine article is published in full in ‘The Language of the Heart’, the above quotation on pages 319-320. “
And:
“In
addition to the above post, the sentence "Used unselfishly and
well, it can produce results surpassing our present imagination.”
should read "Used unselfishly and well, the results can surpass
our present imagination." according to the AA Grapevine article
as it is published in "The Language of the Heart."”
And:
“Having
re-read the passage in the 1960 AA Grapevine article as it is printed
in "The Language of the Heart", the sentence containing the
words " ..the colossus of modern communication..." does not
contain the words "the" or "modern"; it should
therefore read "..this colossus of communication..."”
And:
“I
have checked the wording of the 1960 Grapevine article from the AA
Grapevine Digital archive The wording is the same as it is printed in
‘The Language of the Heart.’ In addition to the above posts, the
following words are also different in the draft handbook when
compared to Bill W’s words in the 1960 Grapevine
article.
“…nothing matters more to AA's future welfare than the manner…” (As printed in the Draft Handbook) should read “…nothing can matter more to the future welfare of AA than the manner….” (As printed in ‘The Language of the Heart and AA Grapevine Digital archive).
“…nothing matters more to AA's future welfare than the manner…” (As printed in the Draft Handbook) should read “…nothing can matter more to the future welfare of AA than the manner….” (As printed in ‘The Language of the Heart and AA Grapevine Digital archive).
When quotes are accredited to Bill W. in Conference approved literature, I do think it is very important that they are reproduced exactly as they were written by him.”
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
Comment:
Time to mind your p's and q's! The consequence of misquoting AA
literature is most clearly (and frequently) exemplified by the cult
(and indeed AA generally) when it comes to Tradition 4:
AA
groups are NOT unconditionally autonomous. They are NOT
at liberty to do exactly as they please. They ARE accountable
to other groups and AA as a whole.
See
also AA Minority Report 2013
