When " it " affects A.A. as a whole.

We (this fellowship I am a member of) have Traditons. The Traditions are principles set down by fellow alcoholics to help unify and keep the program effective, EFFECTIVE. A description of the traditions can be found in the foreword to the Book "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions."

The question is "when behavior of individuals affects A.A. as a whole" what do we do?

" We stay whole or A.A. dies" says the First Tradition and "unity is the most cherished quality our society has. Our lives, and the lives of those to come depend on it" end quote - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition One; page 129.

AND if OUR lives and the lives of those to come depend upon OUR behavior, then the way we act, our manners, our deportment, our conduct means something, it means something to the point of life and death. Life and death for us, and life and death for the newcomer!

Who has the "right" to tell another that their behavior is affecting A.A. as a whole then? An elder statesman?

And what about the response we get these days when we approach a person who isn't acting spiritual, when they say "principles before personalities." In other words, they tell you OR me to mind our own business! Will that ensure the survival of A.A. current and future this- "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS?"

Have members these days taken that principle out of context- principles before personalities? You betchya! (it's about ANONYMITY, stupid)

We may offer guidance by explaining to someone that he or she isn't acting spiritual and that their behavior (besides being known to many already) is affecting A.A. as a whole.

When a person is, say on a dry drunk (and many are) they may have no clue what their behavior is really about and how it is disrupting the lives of others. When approached they shrug off any accountability (thank you Robin) or make remarks like "seems to me YOU'RE the one with the problem." Now in the mind of the denial, for the one in full flight from reality, they see YOU or ME as behaving badly and will to their close friends make excuses for the way they are behaving. They must act or re-act this way because if they don't - (you fill in the blank.)

AND herein lies the problem, when these folks dismiss any responsibility for "inappropiate behavior" THEY disconnect from all spiritual principles that unify US as a whole and keep us EFFECTIVE. Why?

When a person fails to admit his or her fault the action of the program becomes dead. OR when a person can so manipulate others that they would NOT DARE approach him or her with a gripe- those people USE their power AND this power kills. How?

Noone has the power to make another person drink, no, I'm not saying that so what I am saying is this "if you hurt someone and don't use the principles of the program to rectify the hurt and start healing- YOU HAVE THE POWER - yes, TO KILL!

But how?

Because when you allow a hurt to continue, a REAL honest to God offense that you committed against someone, it is not the other persons "duty" to just forget about it.

AND especially when that person has approached you to say "you hurt me", when you deny any responsibility or accountabilty- it is not the other persons "duty" to just forget about it either.


WHEN YOU HURT PEOPLE AND YOU CONTINUE TO HURT PEOPLE, PEOPLE GET HURT, PEOPLE get SPIRITUALLY SICK AND SOME even DIE.

You see, you don't really have the power to kill- but what YOU do have is the power to heal! AND instead of healing others by your actions, YOU PUNISH them by your inactions.

When it affects A.A. as a whole, it affects A.A. individually as well.

The tat2guru