Did you read something in the literature, or hear something in a meeting that offended you? Well, the disease of alcoholism doesn’t care. In fact, it will use your feelings of being offended against you.
Being offended often involves a sense of something being unfair, your feelings were hurt, or you might feel like you’ve been wronged. It is important to note that the experience of being offended can vary greatly from person to person, as individuals have different sensitivities and interpretations of what is considered offensive.
One of the key components of Alcoholics Anonymous is we are united by a common bond, but that bond has nothing to do with your sensitivities. In fact, every sober member of the fellowship can tell you stories about when they were told something they they didn’t want to hear, or were asked to do something they really didn’t want to do.
If you want A.A. to conform to the way you think it should be, then maybe you don’t fully understand what we’re dealing with. We are dealing with the disease of alcoholism and it is cunning, baffling and powerful.
Go ask someone who is in prison because of an alcohol-related offense. Or ask someone who has health problems which could have been avoided if they would have stopped drinking. Ask them how important is it to modify the message of A.A. so less people are offended. What do you think they might say?