Lindsay Lohan............to AA or not to AA???

[fraankie]

well, congrats to her

New York Daily News article
Saturday, dec. 2, 06
"Lohan's new project: AA"

not much
except she's going to AA

the thing i find amusing is
she fits the ACOA
as her father is alcoholic
and
currently in jail for some abuse
related to it

so....................



best
fraankie

[GlassPrisoner]

So much for tradition 11......

[Music]

I really don't care what Lindsey Lohan does. Probably just a publicity stunt like everything else she does. I mean let's face it. Going out bar hopping the other night with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears??? Please!! The three of them have enough air between their ears to raise a balloon.

[REZ]

She doesn't even know about the 11th tradition, I'm sure. I wish any alcoholic the best hope for recovery, no matter who they are.

[Doug]

What's anonymity?

[jmhs002]

Originally Posted by GlassPrisoner

So much for tradition 11......

I am concerned that we are going to find out why tradition 11 is such a good idea.......

[fraankie]

well, tradition 11 is
basically
"a program of attraction, not promotion"
so
we are supposed to attend AA
and
others will see we have changed
and
wonder "how did he do that?"
but
that would be a perfect world

also,
to go around and broadcast AA as the solution
well, when someone slips
it would also broadcast
"AA is not the way"
to others

so
am i correct
"catch 22?"


best
fraankie

[CarolD]

tradition 11...

Eleven—Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

[CarolD]

I had never heard of this woman before the "big announcement"

I do hope all who suffer find their way to recovery.

[GlassPrisoner]

Originally Posted by CarolD

I had never heard of this woman before the "big announcement"

I do hope all who suffer find their way to recovery.

I do too Carol. I am just concerned that AA will get a bad rap, and suffering alcoholics who are still out there will be turned away.

[E_Dili]

We discussed this at my meeting tonight. I think a lot of people would rather not have Lindsey Lohan broadcasting her AA attendance in the public spotlight. It does seem to be a direct contravention of Tradition 11. Regardless, I wish her luck in achieving sobriety. Alcoholism can affect anyone; rich, poor, famous, invisible.

There is one person who I think really should not have broadcasted his recovery in public, and that is Rep. Mark Foley. After being publically shamed for what is likely pedophilia, it is an insult to alcoholics for him to hide all of his actions behind this disease and make big pronouncements about recovery, as if that will immediately wipe away the past. I think many of us would have preferred if he faced his actions for what they were, instead of using alcoholism as an excuse. Perhaps I'm wrong. Your thoughts?

[CarolD]

I'm very busy helping those who reach out to me.
So far..that has been working great!

I don't see a reason to speculate on anyones
notives or recovery.

[collinsmi]

There is one person who I think really should not have broadcasted his recovery in public, and that is Rep. Mark Foley. After being publically shamed for what is likely pedophilia, it is an insult to alcoholics for him to hide all of his actions behind this disease and make big pronouncements about recovery, as if that will immediately wipe away the past. I think many of us would have preferred if he faced his actions for what they were, instead of using alcoholism as an excuse. Perhaps I'm wrong. Your thoughts?

I agree. He sounds kinda sick. I can say that, having experienced nothing but galloping, robust mental and spiritual health throughout my long and prosperous life. Whatever he says or does, it doesn't have to affect me.

[GreenFish]

From what I understand, a reporter or interview asked her mother if she was going to AA. And the mother said that she was attending AA.

[paulmh]

I don't see a reason to speculate on anyones
notives or recovery.

We don't have glass heads.

[miss communicat]

I really resonate with what CarolD says on the topic of another person's AA program, analysing the motive behind it or whatever.

I am working on my own recovery, part of which includes being available to help anyone who asks for help. Thats about all I can handle and maintain my inner peace.

Once I start getting into other peoples' stuff, all bets are off.

Philosophically, however, I don't honestly think that a high profile AA "failure" registers significantly (as far as how AA will be perceived by the Public). And, what the public thinks of AA is also, really, none of my business.


How I can live a better life in AA, how I can keep my side of the street clean, how I can be of service, this is my concern. I am not even worried about how my behaviour reflects on AA.

I wish little Lindsay all the best. She is suffering as we all do. Hopefully she will find a better way to live.

[Tazman53]

The one thing we all need to avoid is judging others, especially in their recovery. If someone chosses to break step 11 that is thier choice and in the long run could effect thier own recovery far mor ethen it would ever hurt AA, there are for more successes in AA that would over ride any failure or bad press due to some one not remaining anonymous. I wish nothing but the best for any one dealing with the beast.

[Music]

Originally Posted by Tazman53

The one thing we all need to avoid is judging others, especially in their recovery.

-It's not my place to judge others under the context of who they are as human beings. That's left to a higher judge than I, but I sure do look around and see what actions are being taken by others and judge the action.

-People who do wrong to others, in or out of AA should be dealt with so that the message gets out that no matter what kind of a person someone is, when they treat other people with disrespect, inconsideration, or harm someone else in any way, they will be judged, and judged harshly. I totally believe that anyone who knowingly breaks an AA tradition, or breaks someone's anonymity, or in any other way intentionally harms someone, including themselves will pay for it in the harshest way. Namely, they will eventually find themselves on the outside of AA looking in.

-People who don't judge the actions of a person are giving tacet permission for that person to continue that action. Sadly, it seems we've reached a point where people can do just about anything and everyone else just turns their head and pretends it didn't happen. I do judge actions and will continue to do so, and when appropriate will take action to make sure the person knows someone at least noticed and doesn't approve.

[primarypurpose]

Has anyone considered that this thread amounts to personal opinions / an open discussion concerning a member of AA

Surely the roots of the traditions centre on the elimination of personal opinions on such matters

I would contemplate whether anyone here would appreciate a thread discussing their recovery / character composed by individuals you have never met, whose attitude toward you is based purely on a media constructed image

[Pink Cloud 2]

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I can't change,
the courage to change the person I can, and the wisdom to know that person is ME.

[Tazman53]

Well said primarypurpose.

Music do you feel it is right to bad mouth somebody behind their back or in front of a group is the proper way to handle those not following AA protocol or is it better to take them aside and discuss where they may be erring?

I know if I have messed up on something I would much rather have my sponsor pull me aside and one on one talk to me rather then bringing it up in a meeting.

I agree that someone needs to explain to a person who has broken anonymity but not in front of the world, nor should it be done in a harsh manner. We are talking about some one with a disease, a fatal one! The last thing I would want to feel is because I harshly dressed some one down for an indescretion they left AA and went back out on my head.

I know that in my early days in AA if some one had called me down on something in front of an entire meeting or chewed me out in private I would have been out of there probably never to return and simply picked up where I left off in my 40 year drinking career.

We have all made mistakes, we have probably all made a mistake in AA of some sort.

I also agree that when someone is out of line that if no one does anything to let them know we have effectively given them permission to do so. We need to take those folks aside and with love and understanding let them know where they have strayed, not only for thier own good, but for all AAs that may come in contact with them.

[Time2Surrender]

Oh man, give me a break. Im happy for her. I hope she stays sober. Most these celebs have publicists who tell them what to say sometimes. Her AA anouncement might have been the best way to go before the press and tabloids take it another way which they probably will anyway. She has a right to announce going to AA if she chooses. Who cares? Its breaking someone elses anonymity that gets me. Robin Williams was in my area recently and hitting meetings. It was all over the news. We have a small meeting with 20 or so people. He started going there. Next thing you know there was 150 people there. Thats all everyone was talking about around here. "I saw Robin Williams........" Now thats BS. He really had no choice but to talk about his recovery on TV and in the news. As for Linsey Lohan? Do you really think she can hit a meeting without people finding out? LOL. Hell no. Someone will open their mouth and violate her anonymity. So she anounced it first. I dont understand how this breaks the 11th tradition? Give me a break. Maybe they should pull some movies off the shelf too like "My name is Bill W." "Clean and sober" "28 days" Arent these movies promoting AA? Heck, we even have AA commercials today. Right? Im glad she is trying to stay sober. What ever it takes. I would hate to see this lady **** her life away with booze and drugs. Linsey Bonadouche? Or even worse, some of the child actors who are gone forever. Too bad we cant read about River Phoenix hitting a meeting tonight.

[Tazman53]

Big Book page 13, paragraph to in Bill's own words:

Never was I to be critical of them.

[Music]

Originally Posted by Tazman53

Music do you feel it is right to bad mouth somebody behind their back or in front of a group is the proper way to handle those not following AA protocol or is it better to take them aside and discuss where they may be erring?

My comment was in response to "judging". That's all!! I'm not going to get into a pi$$ing contest here. I handle situations one at a time and whatever way I think necessary, keeping in mind what I've learned and the way I'd want to be treated.

[paulmh]

Being honest is the easy part. Being honest with love is challenging