system: You are Marie Weidemann, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Recovery message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Tim Dill about "Re: What's Wrong with AA?".

They wrote:
BP> WOW, is that an understatement!!!!!
TD> No, Have you my experience?...
TD> If not this is an alterative viewpoint.
BP> I guess you REALLY believe the AA program is a failure.  That does not
BP> quite coincide with my experience but you are entitled to your
BP> opinion.
TD> Yes, and my opinion marks the ones who have recovered and now are
TD> really taking a long hard look at the _Wording_ that got them
TD> into recovery. An inventory of the organization that may get
TD> people sober.. but leaves them lacking in the way they do it.
BP> Now some might call it name calling to say that you are not a
BP> supporter of AA.  But after what I just read I just want to ask, "Are
BP> you a
BP> supporter of AA"?  And then, if not a supporter of AA are you a
BP> supporter of the 12 steps (that is the AA program of recovery)?
TD> I support AA but not GSO nor the General Service Committee that
TD> wasted 7.2 million dollars of the 7th tradition without
TD> consulting the members...
TD> I support the local groups, I speak at meetings, I make Coffee
TD> at my Monday night step meeting...
TD> But I find that the Literature must change else the Great Program
TD> which got me sober will die...
TD> I never thought that once this would be anyone's reaction to this...
TD> I am sober/clean by the Goddess' power over 7 years now but
TD> it's time I seriously looked at the wording and the way
TD> the Books are written.
TD> In the NA twelve and twelve Character Defects are not mentioned until
TD> the 6th step... and ego deflation hardly at all... It looks at the
TD> 4th step as the most loving thing that you could do for yourself....
TD> There are 22 NEGATIVE references to the ego in the AA 12&12's 4th
TD> step alone.. I have not even begun to count the NEGATIVE ideas
TD> throughout the whole book. With this in mind, I dare say that with
TD> this NEGATIVE reference to us as human beings and one's negative
TD> attitude when one  "Hits bottom" and see's the way (and I dare say the
TD> only way because  AA won't publish any other) charts the course to
TD> recovery... one could think that they are in CATHOLIC school with all
TD> the attending sin and worthlessness and guilt associated with just
TD> being human and then see this is JUST a spiritual program?
TD> I don't think so....
TD> Therefore just for the newcomer we need to REVISE the 1939 Texts
TD> and the 1947 Texts to reflect the CURRENT membership...
TD> There have been 5 revised copies of the NA Blue books out since I
TD> got clean. The NA 12 & 12 has been written in 1990 and published in
TD> 1993 reflecting the learning curve of dealing with the "dregs of
TD> humanity" it reflects a gentler way of dealing with the ones hurt
TD> by AA's out moded way of TALKING to the sufferer....

Write your reply.

assistant: *THIS* is what I was refering to...changing not the program but just the
 way the books are written to reflect a more positive attitude..
 On of my AA friends pointed out that he read something that Bill W. wrote
 just before he died..something about AA changing and that he supported
 changes...because without changes *all* things stagnate...
 He is going to find that article and post it here....all in Bill W.'s words.
 Marie
... Better a good run than a long standing.
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12