from the "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions' book:
Tradition 12 - Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
"The spiritual substance of anonymity is sacrifice. Because A.A.'s Twelve Traditions repeatedly ask us to give up personal desires for the common good, we realize that the sacrificial spirit - well symbolized by anonymity - is the foundation of them all. It is A.A.'s proved willingness to make these sacrifices that gives people their high-confidence in our future...
"When the book appeared in 1939, we called it 'Alcoholics Anonymous'. Its foreword made this revealing statement: 'It is important that we remain anonymous because we are too few, at present, to handle the overwhelming number of personal appeals which may result from the publication...'
"As the A.A. groups multiplied so did anonymity problems. Enthusiastic over the spectacular recovery of a brother alcoholic, we'd sometimes discuss those intimate and harrowing aspects of his case meant for his sponsor's ear alone. The agrieved victim would then rightly declare that his trust had been broken... Clearly, every AA member's name - and story, too - had to be confidential, if he wished. This was our first lesson in the practical application of anonymity...
"With characteristic intemperance, however, some of our newcomers cared not at all for secrecy. They wanted to shout AA from the housetops, and did. Alcoholics barely dry rushed about bright-eyed, buttonholing anyone who would listen to their stories. Others hurried to place themselves before microphones and cameras. Sometimes they got distressingly drunk and let their groups down with a bang. They had changed from AA members to AA show-offs...
"This phenomenon of contrast really set us thinking. Squarely before us was the question 'How anonymous should an AA member be?' Our growth made it plain that we couldn't be a secret society, but it was equally plain that we couldn't be a vaudeville circuit either. The charting of a safe path between these extremes took a long time...
"These experiences taught us that anonymity is real humility at work. It is an all pervading spiritual quality which today keynotes AA life everywhere. Moved by the spirit of anonymity, we try to give up our natural desires for personal distinction as AA members both among fellow alcoholics and before the general public. As we lay aside these very human aspirations, we believe that each of us takes part in the weaving of a protective mantle wich covers our whole Society and under which we may grow and work in unity...
" We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have."
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
AMANDA>>>>>>>>>>>> We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have."
ROSIE>>>>>>>>>>>>>AMEN AMEN AMEN......humility is something i am JUST learning....and its pretty good...keeps me in tune with my HP..........and anonymity.....SOOO true.....good to see ya girlfriend.....rosie
What a coincidence. . .at last night's meeting, the "anonymity" factor was discussed exclusively. The issue is most definitely a double-edged sword: The strength of the program resides in its adherence to maintaining confidentiality and anonymity--yet AA would have folded back in the Thirties if "word of mouth" by members in the public at large hadn't boldy taken the 12 Steps to the masses. Remember, John Rockefeller himself exposed AA to the public eye after he was impressed with its program, and the resolve of its founders.
One of our group's oldtimers will go anywhere and everywhere to declare himself an alcoholic and a 35-year member of AA; he is a spellbinding public speaker, and he has been a trailblazer shedding a positive light on an often maligned organization. And then I know of several other oldtimers who wouldn't dream of sharing their AA participation with a non-alcoholic--for these individuals, they cherish anonymity to the nth degree.
So I suppose, different strokes for different folks. . .
