Tradition 10. Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the OA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
So, they run a fellow born a British subject,
a war hero, led a battle that shattered the Native American coalition,
elected at a time of dramatic unrest in the country,
he was sworn in, spoke in bitter winter weather,
dressed as for an inside address, he spoke two hours
in his inaugural address and died of pneumonia
a month and a day later, followed...when they stopped arguing
by a man who went from states rights before being
"and Tyler too" to a nationalist with scruples
estranged from both major parties.
a war hero, led a battle that shattered the Native American coalition,
elected at a time of dramatic unrest in the country,
he was sworn in, spoke in bitter winter weather,
dressed as for an inside address, he spoke two hours
in his inaugural address and died of pneumonia
a month and a day later, followed...when they stopped arguing
by a man who went from states rights before being
"and Tyler too" to a nationalist with scruples
estranged from both major parties.
A century before the Big Book, no Eleventh Tradition existed.
But if it had, bickering about the positions,
the morality of politicians would have violated it,
and discussion of controversy would have been silenced.
Nine years ago I attended a single O.A. meeting in San Antonio,
and a careless comment, followed by, "Can I say that here?"
will forever cross my mind when I think of O.A. in that city
where now I know a number of fine folks steeped in the Traditions.
But if it had, bickering about the positions,
the morality of politicians would have violated it,
and discussion of controversy would have been silenced.
Nine years ago I attended a single O.A. meeting in San Antonio,
and a careless comment, followed by, "Can I say that here?"
will forever cross my mind when I think of O.A. in that city
where now I know a number of fine folks steeped in the Traditions.
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