Bill and Bob's Excellent Adventure! (contd)

A wildly imaginative dianoetic rambling concerning the the “basic text” of Alcoholics Anonymous (viz. the Big Book) (our comments in red print)

Foreword to Second Edition (pp. xvii-xxi)

“Our Society then entered a fearsome and exciting adolescent period. The test that it faced was this: Could these large numbers of erstwhile erratic alcoholics successfully meet and work together? [sometimes] Would there be quarrels over membership, leadership, and money? [yes] Would there be strivings for power and prestige? [yes] Would there be schisms which would split A.A. apart? [yes – it's been going on in AA since the beginning] Soon A.A. was beset by these very problems on every side and in every group. But out of this frightening and at first disrupting experience the conviction grew that A.A.’s had to hang together or die separately. We had to unify our Fellowship or pass off the scene.

As we discovered the principles by which the individual alcoholic could live [12 Step programme], so we had to evolve principles by which the A.A. groups and A.A. as a whole could survive and function effectively [12 Traditions]. It was thought that no alcoholic man or woman could be excluded from our Society; that our leaders might serve but never govern; that each group was to be autonomous [except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole] and there was to be no professional class of therapy [ie. as AA members we don't get paid for Twelve Step work; it's an “avocation”]. There were to be no fees or dues; our expenses were to be met by our own voluntary contributions [ie. no money to be derived from other sources like book sales – oops!] There was to be the least possible organization [except in cult groups – here control is everything!], even in our service centres. Our public relations were to be based upon attraction rather than promotion [take note sundry circuit speakers et al]. It was decided that all members ought to be anonymous at the level of press, radio, TV and films [Damn! There goes the Hollywood career!]. And in no circumstances should we give endorsements [but see 'chit' system or court mandated attendance], make alliances, or enter public controversies.

This was the substance of A.A.’s Twelve Traditions, which are stated in full on page 561 of this book. Though none of these principles had the force of rules or laws, they had become so widely accepted by 1950 that they were confirmed by our first International Conference held at Cleveland. Today the remarkable unity of A.A. is one of the greatest assets that our Society has [or have we? Sounds like someone is 'whistling in the dark'!].

While the internal difficulties of our adolescent period were being ironed out, public acceptance of A.A. grew by leaps and bounds. For this there were two principal reasons: the large numbers of recoveries, and reunited homes. These made their impressions everywhere. Of alcoholics who came to A.A. and really tried, [Note: “and really tried” ie. not EVERYONE who walked through the door but everyone who walked through the door “AND really tried”] 50% got sober at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on with A.A. showed improvement. [This last statistic seems curious to us. The first two (50 and 25%) are unproblematic implying that those concerned eventually became entirely physically abstinent - but the last 25% clearly did not. We can only assume that they were periodically sober and then relapsed suggesting that “showed improvement” means they at least had some respite from active alcoholism. The notion, however, that they might benefit in the long run is contradicted by the frequently stated notion that as a chronic condition active alcoholism can only lead to a progressively deteriorating state – hardly an improvement!] Other thousands came to a few A.A. meetings and at first decided they didn’t want the program. But great numbers of these—about two out of three began to return as time passed. [see here for AA recovery rates]

Another reason for the wide acceptance of A.A. was the ministration of friends—friends in medicine, religion, and the press, together with innumerable others who became our able and persistent advocates. Without such support, A.A. could have made only the slowest progress. Some of the recommendations of A.A.’s early medical and religious friends will be found further on in this book.

Alcoholics Anonymous is not a religious organization. Neither does A.A. take any particular medical point of view [“outside issues” – see Tradition 10 – also see the use of the Lord's Prayer in AA meetings and the pamphlet “The AA member – Medications and Other Drugs”], though we cooperate widely with the men of medicine as well as with the men of religion.

Alcohol being no respecter of persons, we are an accurate cross section of America, and in distant lands, the same democratic evening-up process is now going on. By personal religious affiliation, we include Catholics, Protestants, Jews [not Christians – see above], Hindus [not Christians], and a sprinkling of Moslems [not Christians] and Buddhists [not Christians] [not to mention the increasing numbers of atheists, agnostics, humanists, secularists and those who generally couldn't care less one way or the other!]. More than15% of us are women [some of whom are NOT CHRISTIANS].

At present, our membership is pyramiding at the rate of about twenty per cent a year. So far, upon the total problem of several million actual and potential [note the use of the word “potential” - this implies a possibility, not a certainty!] alcoholics in the world, we have made only a scratch. In all probability, we shall never be able to touch more than a fair fraction of the alcohol problem in all its ramifications. [This suggests that even at this early stage – 1955 - there was a clear recognition that despite the best efforts on our part our programme would “never” impact on more than a relatively small proportion of the total alcoholic population “actual and potential”. Put simply AA does not suit everyone]. [It is fortunate therefore that …..] Upon therapy for the alcoholic himself, we surely have no monopoly. [This underscores the fact that there exists a whole range of methods which might prove more suitable for those who find AA's approach unappealing for a variety of reasons. We should celebrate this fact rather than lament it. AA has NEVER claimed to be the sole means by which alcoholics may recover. But surely this should be our main concern ie. the alleviation of suffering by WHATEVER MEANS – but excluding bullying and coercion] Yet it is our great hope that all those who have as yet found no answer may [again there is no claim to certainty or exclusivity here] begin to find one in the pages of this book and will presently join us on the high road to a new freedom.”

(our emphases)

Coming next – Foreword to Third Edition

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Caution: This curse (sorry!!) COURSE is not to be taken as AUTHORITATIVE nor is it to be regarded as DEFINITIVE in any way. Anyone found to be according it any undue status will be reported to the appropriate authorities (ie. GSO York or whoever) who will then do …. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! (quite rightly too we say!). Moreover any person discovered to be quoting from the aforementioned course will be TERMINATED with extreme prejudice!