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)
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!
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