Unify

“A lot of parents will do anything for their children except let them be themselves” – Banksy , Wall and Piece

This is another of Banksy’s screen prints in which he questions, with great irony, the relationship between war culture–which is very exposed in Western society–and childhood innocence.

The word “police” in Police Kids is more of a play on words than an actual description. Childhood is innocent and playful, though according to society requires supervision, as it is also subversive in its exuberance. Hence the bulletproof vests.

Police Kids was released as a limited-edition print in 2005. The Blue edition of 350 contains 150 signed prints and 200 unsigned prints. Banksy also produced a very small run of 22 artist proofs in pink at 2005.

January 2, 2024 

Today we’re going back in time. “Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was published in 1939. By the close of 1941, AA numbered 8,000 members. The mushrooming process was in full swing. AA had become a national institution.

Our society then entered a fearsome and exciting adolescent period. The test that it faced was this:

a. Could these large numbers of erratic alcoholics successfully work and meet together?

b. Would there be quarrels over membership, leadership and money?

c. Would there be strivings for power and prestige?

Soon AA was beset by these very problems on every side and in every group. But out of this frightening and at first disrupting experience the conviction grew that AA’s had to hang together or die separately. We had to unify our fellowship or pass off the scene.”

We are a story telling society, and I have a story.

But Bill W., AA co-founder, knew how bad things were , according to letters from the AA archives in New York City.

There are two letters that I really like. They’re written from different groups, but the same city, and they start out, “Dear Bill, Our group is on fire. We’re visiting the hospitals, the courts, the jails. Police are dropping people off at our doorstep. The only problem we have is this group across the street.” 

And then the group across the street writes a letter, “Dear Bill, We’re on fire. We’re doing everything. This is wonderful. The only problem we have is this group across the street.”

I think it’s funny. They had the same problem. And, I think if we didn’t unify our fellowship like the forward to the 2nd edition BB (pg xix) says, “We would have to pass off the scene.”

My question to you is: Where would you be today if our fellowship had not been UNIFIED? 

L.: These are my people. We have the same goal of not drinking. This group is  so open and accepting.

P.: I know well that it’s human nature to bond and the best benefit I have is 8 years sober.

A.: Alcoholics are the biggest community I have in my life. I love alcoholics.

W.: I’m new to all this. It’s wonderful. We’re all so diverse, but we have the same message.

J.: I’m grateful for this organization. Without it, I wouldn’t know who I was or what needed to be fixed. 

 S.: I’m really grateful because we wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be here. I can stop hiding and just be myself. I’m not well adjusted, and I wouldn’t know what’s wrong with me.

Thanks everyone for a great meeting.