Politics in our group

[Birddog]

We got a small home group in our town and one member who talks non-stop about the current state of affairs.

Hes an unreasonable Bush supporter and I'm so tierd of the inevitable political garbage, meetings are something I'm starting to dread when he's there. But he has a good program going, I learn a lot from this guy, I just wish he'd let this garbage drop.

I feel bad. What should I do or say?

[splendra]

Maybe you could ask that while the meeting is in progess that your group only focus on a topic of recovery and save politics for when after the meeting ends.....

[Dawn10]

You have every right to ask that the group stay on the topic of recovery and working the steps. It is not appropriate for this person to monopolize the group with his political opinions. Many members of the group may feel the same as you and are just shy about asking him to stop.

[mateo]

Perhaps you could remind him that aa has no position on outside affairs or issues... and ask him to save his political views for outside the meeting.

Individual aa'ers of course are entitled to thier opinions on politics, religion, whatever... but better to leave them at the door come meeting time and focus on our primary purpose: to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

[Birddog]

I'm an American and I live in a small mountain town here in the Philippines and we have so few AA members I'm afraid that if I say something he'll quit coming.
The guys got 15 years and I have 2.
The other week he was saying that AA plagerizes the 12 steps from speech Jesus gave and like it or not, AA was teaching us how to be Christians. Than he went on and on about Jesus and George Bush.
Thats kinda why I'm here at this site, my wife and I set up for the meetings and do all the work, nobody takes commitments, nobody puts anything in the cup for a 7th tradition, I'm just thinking of folding up this group and getting my AA off the internet. Like the suggestion, "just be a member".

[1Marty]

It would be tragic if you folded up and left. Sounds like you are dealing with very sick people. They may really need those meetings you so graciously set up. You are doing the work of you higher power by reaching out to others. Remember Love and Tolarance is our code.

[The Jay Walker]

it is hard to see a meeting die, especially in an area that has so few meetings to begin with,
but things have a way of working out the way there supposed to, I have seen two of my home groups die out since I have been sober, others pop up to take there place eventually.
all we can do is the next indicated step.

[3legacy]

Birddog:
Glad to hear your active in Service by setting up the meetings. Found that to be very beneficial for long term sobriety myself. It sounds like a wonderful time for a Traditions Study to be brought up in your Group Conscience(Business Meeting).

Your 2 years -vs- his 15 years means diddley squat! From my perspective, it is the spiritual principles of AA are the yardstick for our guidance in Alcoholics Anonymous. Time of itself is not! But then again, time with practical experience in application of these spiritual principles means the world to me.

Bummer is ......... meetings, meetings, and more meetings are started instead of looking to use of AA Principles embodied in the Three Legacies. Some ego's will always want to run the show without merging responsibility with authority. I'm grateful to be a member of a functioning Home Group that participates as a small part of the great whole in AA through District Area etc...

(((((((Birddog))))))))) I've found digging deeper into the Steps Traditions and Concepts a pleasure and good defense against Oldtimers sitting on their butts trying to run the show.

ThreeLeggedStool

[Birddog]

Some old timers humility seems to only come from their mouths, not their hearts.
It becomes a big ego game over who has how many years, and they try to "quantify serenity"
Barroom behavior dies hard I guess.
I will be holding a meeting tonight, I usually text out to our 4 or 5 members to remind them there is a meeting, tonight I'll just set up and see if anybody shows up.
Mark C.
Valencia Philippines

[Dan]

I stand with deep respect for your service to our Fellowship.
I wish you much luck and light.

[Birddog]

I have learned the hard way, that an alcoholic of my type that does not go to meetings will, eventually get drunk, sometimes in days or some times in weeks. But i always got messed up again.
So the dilemma was, how do I keep going to meeting where there is no group...?
I got my wife and sponsor to help me and we set one up here, only a few members come and go but what is important for me is that I have a meeting to attend every single week.
I got to have meetings, it gives me something not to drink between right?

[3legacy]

Birddog :tri :

A passage from the Big Book jumps to mind. It was suggested by a gentleman that I re-read the entire Chapter A Vision For You. After moving to a very rural area I was traveling with a newcomer 120 miles a couple times a week to make a meeting in the nearest, more urban area. They had quite a few meetings being held by functioning AA Home Groups. Taken in context the entire Chapter makes much sense to me today. Here is an exerpt from that Chapter which struck home to me in similar situation to your own -

"Thus we grow. And so can you, though you be but one man with this book in your hand. We Believe and hope it contains all you will need to begin.

We know what you are thinking. You are saying to yourself: "I'm jittery and alone. I couldn't do that." But you can. You forget that you have just now tapped a source of power much greater than yourself. To duplicate, with such backing, what we have accomplished is only a matter of willingness, patience and labor."

-p.162-3 Alcoholics Anonymous

Hope this helps you as it has me. My heart goes out to you in your attempt to remain a link in the wonderful chain of A.A. I had a tape with Bill, Ebby, Sister Ignatia, & Lois Wilson speaking at an A.A. event. Lois said on that tape "Every link in the chain of Alcoholics Anonymous is important."

((((((((Birddog))))))))) Kiss Heart of Spirit
In Love & Service,
ThreeLegs

[Birddog]

"one man with a book in his hand"

I like that!, Thank you 3 leg!

[3legacy]

Thank you, Birddog. Always a pleasure to converse with another alcoholic. Heading to our local District Business meeting shortly but would love to catch up with you in chatroom someday soon. Feel free post your availability to chat live-time if you wish. I will try to make my schedule work with yours.

((((((((((((Birddog))))))))))))

[Don W]

Hi Birddog, You could ask for a group meeting and put it to a vote. I have seen groups decide issues like this. Then when they open the meeting they simply state, no politics, swearing etc. This is your group also and you have a right to be heard. Unless, there are other groups in the area, the worse thing is to stop going. I've had simalar problems before. I tried putting it in perspective. However, the best results, although difficult, came from being up front. Example, Sorry, blank, but, I can't handle controversial subjects right now. Good Luck Don W

[lulu70]

Hello Birddog. You have received much experience, strength and hope from the other posters on this thread. I won't be redundant and state what has already been said. Just wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers. We do whatever we have to in order to stay sober. You could try praying for that guy, too. It certainly can't hurt!

[Music]

There's a story in the Big Book about Bill W. and how frustrated he was at the idea of all the work he'd been doing and it didn't seem like anyone was catching on and staying sober. Lois simply said to him, "Yes Bill but you're sober!" This is why I asked what your motives are for keeping this meeting going. People will come and people will go. Some will show up and some won't. This guy who talks about Jesus and Bush may be forgetting about our "singleness of purpose" but don't forget that "Love and Tolerance" is our code. Remind him that there's a time and place for everything and that in an AA meeting may not be the time for his discussion of Jesus and Bush. Beyond that, nobody can force anyone to say or do anything he doesn't want to say or do.

You're staying sober Dog. That's all that counts! What others say or do is really not important when compared to you staying sober. Just keep doing what you're doing 'cause something's working.

[Birddog]

Its not so much what goes on in the meeting as it is the fact that I had it in my mind to go, I got up off the chair and went.


That is a critical part of my program.

[Birddog]

Thanks for the feedback, I like this website.