Conference questions (2014) – missed! But only by a whisker!

“26. Is harmony at Intergroup and Regional level more important than listening to the minority view?

Background

• Page 82 of As Bill Sees It: Here Bill emphasised the reality and importance of trouble or friction at AA assemblies when he described friction of opposing viewpoints as the very mode of operating upon which we proceed. The minority opinion expressed at Intergroup and Regional assemblies is often the focus of conflicting views and the absence of these frictions can mask our tendency for justifying and rationalising a desire not to listen to minority opinion.

• Concept 5 emphasises the value of protecting the minority opinion as a check and balance against apathetic, angry or hasty majorities. Allowing a minority opinion to be freely expressed without fear of condemnation might be uncomfortable to a majority of an Intergroup or Regional assembly; however, a minority view can often be right and at the very least will force a majority to debate important issues thoroughly while preventing hasty and unwise decisions being made that are not in the best interests of the still suffering alcoholic. The apparent harmony of a quiet and unruffled assembly can mask the fact that minorities are either too fearful to speak out or are actually prevented from participating in service.

• The freedom to participate in service helps to guarantee that the minority opinion will be heard. It’s tempting to exclude those people we regard as nuisances for one reason or another and this human tendency will, if allowed to carry on, inevitably erode the democracy and effectiveness of Intergroups and Regions. As a result our future Conference delegates will be unprepared for the opportunities that exist at Conference to speak up when in a minority, as their conscience sees fit when acting in the interests of AA as a whole.

Terms of Reference No. 5 Covered by Committee 5 at Conference 2013”

Comment: Oh do we concur! To which end see AA Minority Report 2013 (which for various reasons – none particularly good – similarly didn't pass muster and make its way into the AA conference's discussions!)

See here for a full list of other questions that didn't quite get through the 'filter'

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)