Posted by andyaddict on September 25, 19101 at 13:50:42:
I received the NA Way in the mail today. As I browsed through it, I stopped to read the response from H&I; Slim. In it was a reference to "clarity statements" used in Narcotics Anonymous meetings and H&I; panel presentations. I would like to express my opinion as to why these statements are inappropriate and how I feel they contradict the spiritual principals of many of our traditions. I share this as a result of my deep and undying gratitude towards Narcotics Anonymous and the recovery that has been made available to me as a result of this fellowship.
Let me begin by saying I feel our First Tradition calls on each individual member to overlook the differences (language) that may divide us and focus on our 'common identity' - as unified members of a greater whole. Tradition One does NOT justify self-righteous attempts to shoe-horn members into the belief of language specificity. Our common welfare hinges not on our ability to compose uniformity, but on every individual members willingness to surrender any defect standing in the way of unconditional acceptance. Allowing us to apprecieate the fact of "our diversity being our strength."
These statements are adopted in the name of group conscience. Tradition Two in our Basic Text tells us that the spiritual conscience of a group will NEVER contradict ANY of our traditions. The will of our Ultimate Authority is what ought to be expressed through this conscience. Not that of a few popular individuals in their attempt to disguise bad motives as apparent good ones.
The Basic Text tells us our reaction to drugs is what makes us addicts; not what we used. Our Third Tradition tells us that our desire is what makes us members, not what we say. It is not our job to pressure other members to talk or act 'correctly.' We teach by example, offering others welcome, as they comfortably come to their own understanding, in God's time.
Tradition Four, speaks of "autonomy," with it comes a great measure of implied freedom, although this freedom does not justify the disregard of principals embodied in other traditions. As stated in our Basic Text when contradiction exists we have usually already slipped away from those very principals.
I believe that all we feel today can be seperated into two categories, love and fear. First and foremost 'our message' as carried through our Fifth Tradition, ought to express love. To focus our collective energy through the spirit of encouragement, patience, tolerance, and acceptance of all members at any phase in their devedopment. To criticize, correct, reject, categorize, or disapprove of other members (language) is a result of a message rooted in fear. If ever I was to believe our message might be 'blurred' it would be as a result of the latter.
Many clarity statements borrow the name of Narcotics Anonymous and carry with them an implied blanket endorsement of our fellowship by using the term "we." I for one am a member of NA and have not, nor will I ever endorse such a concept. To me, having served on a literature committee in NA and experienced some of the laborious efforts put into every piece of APPROVED literature in our fellowship, these statements are very disturbing. I believe there is a specific process in which every piece of literature or fellowship statement must pass in order to be approved as NA 'literature' or 'opinion.' These statements have not gone through this process of approval in NA. Consequently, groups and committees displaying, printing, and reading these statements are themselves in opposition to our Sixth Tradition.
What is the purpose of such statements? The answer seems clear. To edit wording used by our members while communicating their experience, strengths, and hope in our meetings. It seems to me a self-rightous, misguided "control" issue, and attempt to place our members responsible to our committees. A top down bureaucracy dictating to our members. Remember ... "NA, as such, ought NEVER be organized."
So then what is NA's opinion of the 'sober alcoholic' member? NA has no opinion. NA does not endorse language or idealism related to specific drugs, ... neither does NA oppose. That is the simplicity of Tradition Ten. NA stands neutral on these issues neither to endorse, NOR oppose. Therefore committees or groups using statements opposing causes (language) are also in opposition to Tradition Ten.
And finally, language specificity could NEVER BE an issue when humility is practiced through the spirit of anonymity. When anonymity is squarely in place, members can never be earmarked as adjective-addicts, but as simple anonymous parts of ... rather than maliciously apart from. The principals of recovery that unite us ought always stand paramount to the personalities that may divide.
"Truly, anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions. Without it, the unity upon which personal recovery depends would dissolve in a chaos of conflicting personalities. With it, our groups are given a body of guiding principle, our Twelve Traditions, helping them join the personal strengths of their members in a fellowship that suports and nurtures the recovery of us all."
with loving service,
andyaddict
Shreveport La.