Participant Observation of Alcoholics Anonymous Free Essay Example, 750 words

Bob Kirk was well ahead of time. He saw to the last minute arrangements in the Oyster Room where he had called for a meeting at 6 pm. The group of forty-six people was special. They were ex-alcoholics but in their words, We are alcoholics who won t drink today . I had met up with Bob about a week ago and had asked him to let me sit through an AA meeting he regularly conducts. I sensed his reluctance for AA meetings are very cloistered. He relented when he found out that my intrusion was purely for academic reasons and that no video was involved. I grabbed this moment of weakness and set the date, so here I am! People started to come in. One striking thing was that they were all coming in twos and threes and it seemed that they needed each other. The other was that they did belong to the cross-section of the society. By six, thirty-eight chairs were taken. They sat with the look of triumph on their faces. The kind the achievers have. They interacted with one another in a very open a nd honest way, extremely upfront and without any reservation. We will write a custom essay sample on Participant Observation of Alcoholics Anonymous or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Then it is wonderful to watch as eyes close, heads drop, knees bend and very audibly the Serenity Prayer is said. Four lines of sincere appeal: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference .ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The men who were gathered at the Oyster Room held this in their hearts.