Posted by David Chalfant (208.30.14.128) on July 18, 1999 at 15:41:40:
In Reply to: Suicide?? I need help !! posted by drummer on July 18, 1999 at 13:07:46:
Hi Drummer.I agree with the need to include CHers only, but of coarse others will stumble on to this site with other types of HA. This will always happen.
Let me illustrate an important point: During the mid to late 1800's. A group called the Washingtonians was formed to help alkies recover. It was a very successful group. The # of members,if I am correct were in the 100,000's. This group not only helped others to stay sober but had principles that improved their spiritual well being.
However, and I cannot remember why, the Washingtonians became an attractive group to the general public. eventually, other non alcoholics began to join the group; the depressed , lost souls Christains, you name it. There were no real bylaws or tradiditions for group membership. eventually differences of opinions developed. Some attempted to be governers of the group; unfortunately this caused even more controversy. Fights, spats, and over opinionated alkies started to try and restablish the original purpose of the Washingtonians. This added to the chaos. Factions began to develope as a result, the group reputation was tainted became less attractive. Well, with all the calamity the group(s) began to self exterminate. Sober alkies took to the bottle again and the era of the Washingtonians ended until AA was formed in the 1930's with principles and traditions with the sole purpose of limiting membership to alcoholics only and those who thought they may be alcoholic. AA started in 1935 by two people. The membership over the past 64 ywars has grown to an estimate of 2,000,000 + internationally. The important fact is that AA was limited to people with alcohol problems. More traditions were established as the group(s) began to evolve,ALL of AA grew mainly by word of mouth; by an article concerning AA and its success written by Jack Alexander that was published in the New York Times, and the printing of the first basic text.
I see many commonalities in our group compared to the history of the growth of AA. But our primary purpose is limited to help the CH sufferers and get try to get the message to others with CH or those who are still searching for answers to their malady ( tradition 5 of AA is strikingly similiar to our goal). Also I see a need to place principles before personalties ( Part of the purpose of AA's 12th tradition.)
So thank you for the posting and I apologize to other sober alkies on our site and those who are offended by the AA comparision.
Stay cool drummer; I feel that we will work things out as the come. Hope you are banging your drum kit and not your head Peace DC