Tradition 10 · October 7

Fifty Per Cent

Daily Traditions · October 7

Before the Tradition

A member took a paid commission to deliver twelve lectures about A.A. over a national radio hookup, and Headquarters asked to read them first. Bill W. (A.A. pamphlet P-17): "They were about 50% A.A. and 50% our friend's personal religious convictions. This could create a false public view of us. Religious prejudice against A.A. would be aroused. So we objected." The reply was not gracious. "Our friend shot back a hot letter saying that he felt “inspired” to give these lectures," and insisted A.A. had no business "to interfere with his right of free speech." He added that the trustees could go plumb to the devil, and that the lectures were going on the air. Now watch what A.A. did not do. It did not answer him publicly, issue a statement, correct him in print, or go near a court. "We wrote our friend that A.A. had a right to free speech too. We wouldn't oppose him publicly, but we could and would guarantee that his sponsor would receive several thousand letters of objection from A.A. members if the program went on the radio." Then one sentence closes it. "Our friend abandoned the project."

Sit with

A.A. stopped a man from broadcasting in its name without once contradicting him in public. Last time I needed something stopped, did I need it stopped — or did I need to be seen stopping it?

Grounded in: P-17, p. 53–54.

Tradition 10

"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."

Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.

And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.

What the Traditions actually say → The Long Form, p. 563 → Search the Big Book → Every day this month →

Ask Recovery Einstein about Tradition 10 → Get the app →

← October 6The Right Kind of Education Tradition 10All of October October 8 →The Account Has No Face

Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).