"The earth was
created by the assistance of the sun, and it should be left as it was... The
country was made without lines of demarcation, and it is no man's business to
divide it..."
Chief
Joseph Nez Perce
We
are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship,
a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful. We are
like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck
when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to
Captain's table. Unlike the feelings of the ship's passengers, however, our joy
in escape from disaster does not subside as we go our individual ways. The
feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful
cement which binds us. But that in itself would never have held us together as
we are now joined.
Big
Book pg. 17
Our
common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
Big
Book pg. 562
Note:
There are over two million members of Alcoholics Anonymous worldwide
and about 100,800 groups in over 150 countries.