Like most of us, I am definitely thinking of AARC and those who are in AARC on Christmas right now. While it's a solemn day in AARC knowing the rest of your friends and family are having a normal holiday, I'm glad to know that the kids in AARC right now are not in a Rap, and are most likely having a far easier day than most. Newcomers will have some supervised time with their parents at a dinner table, if the rules are still the same.
I was reading about helping cult members today, and how communication like we have on this board where we are straight forward in saying "You are in a cult, you are brainwashed, your leader is misleading you" only causes the cult member to become more defensive of their cult. I was interested this morning in asking the AARC staff who post on this board, what it is they think when they watch the film or trailer for "over the GW", but then I answered myself. They will not see the similarities and question what it is they do. They will become afraid and then pick out the very minor differences and feel justified that they are enough to make AARC different - it will fuel their belief that AARC is the one and only place to truly heal drug addicts. Isn't that what you believe guys? Name one other "treatment centre" for youth which you feel is equal to or better than AARC.
What I would like to do today though is plant a seed in your heads regarding the amount of jargon and negativity that is used in AARC. I am a strong believer in choosing words carefully, and speaking in a positive manner. I know that you believe that directing anger at Newcomers, or your stressing your disapproval in them helps them, and I know that you can't take a day off from doing that, but I could ask you to try and do this one thing: Tomorrow when back in Rap's again, try to go one entire day without using the following words:
Hurt'n
Pathetic
Bullshit
con
martyr
"pitty pot"
Druggie
weasel
Kiss Ass
struggl'n/struggle
Defect
"deadinsaneorinjail"
Insane/Insanity
Good Luck.