Godless AA alternative

Kristian Gravenor's article about alcoholics anonymous ["A toast to AA," Aug. 10] was a good one and appreciative enough of the organization that it shouldn't scare people away. However, that little note of skepticism in the article--if I sensed it correctly--may definitely be justified, at least from my experience.

I had been attending AA meetings (until recently) for three years and they have been very helpful. However, some of us get to a point where all the God bullshit gets on our nerves, and offends our critical intellect. A dangerous impasse is reached, because we can go no further but still need help.

Let me quote Clark Vaughan, the author of a book called Addictive Drinking:

"AA at least gave me love and understanding, for which I shall be eternally grateful, and a lot of very practical help; but they kept talking about how the belief in a Higher Power was going to do it for me. While I could accept the idea that such a belief might work for them, I knew that it wouldn't for me... it didn't."

"AA'ers said 'Don't analyze too much.' Well, they had belief in God and I didn't, so I decided I should either analyze and figure out what was really helping them get sober, or go down the tube. If it works, I'll buy it, but it better make sense to me. Answers, that's what I wanted, and sensible sounding answers were the only thing I could or would buy."

If this sounds familiar to some person reading this out there suffering from any kind of addiction, perhaps you should consider joining our little group of like-minded people that uses any means of mental support possible to get straight. We might, I repeat, MIGHT, be able to do together what we can't do in 12-step programs. Without Jehovah. If you're interested, please call 735-0744, anytime.

--Marco Ermacora

Green dialogue, continued

I'd like to congratulate Bernard Cooper on his well-written letter in last week's Mirror. I essentially agree with what he has to say, although there are two points that need clarification and I hope I'm not boring Mirror readers by responding to them.

Firstly, Cooper may have been involved in the Green Parties for a long time, most recently in 1998 when he was in the centre of the auto-distrust of the provincial party, but it has been at least five years since he's had anything to do with the federal party. Two different parties. The article which contained his comments that I criticized was about the federal party, which he abandoned long ago.

The second point is in agreement with Cooper's belief that environmental awareness campaigns should not be limited to every four years at election times.

Of course, but I never in anyway inferred that. I don't look at the Green Party as the bastion of hope for saving the environment, not by a long shot. It is but one of many avenues for helping communicate the environmental message. It happens to be an effective one during election times.

I don't just put on a Green hat every four years at election time, I wear many different hats, all green, all the time: I'm an environmental researcher, activist, consultant and commentator.

If Cooper has given up on party politics that's his choice, and I respect his reasons, but he should stop criticizing those who have chosen to hang in there. The Green Party is not Cooper's enemy. We are all on the same side, underdogs fighting against social and environmental oppression.

If Cooper has nothing good to say about the Greens that's fine, but then I suggest he remain respectfully silent.

-- Brian Sarwer-Foner, multi-hatted environmentalist guy

Correction

In last week's visual arts listings photo, the creator of the "Cheap Thrills" V-low bicycle was wrongly identified. It was created by V-Low (93 Rachel W.) owner Karyne Paradise. We regret the error.