Alright, so here's my quesion people:

Why does it matter if the assembly still exists? Why does it matter if there are still people out there who are holding on to the assembly?

Okay: so you might call them misguided, confused, etc. And alright, I agree with you there... but the very distinct difference between many of you and ME is that... I don't care.

If people want to hang on to that, by all means, let them do that. It has nothing to do with me anymore, and if they feel like wasting the rest of their lives, go for it. But for me to care would mean I'd be hanging on to, and dwelling in, the past and my bitterness. I'm not really bitter, I just don't care if other people are gonna waste their time. That's why I haven't been here in awhile, I just stopped caring about the assembly. Yeah, granted, what they're doing is unhealthy, but it doesn't need to effect YOU anymore, and you're the one who's letting it effect you.

That's just my two cents. I must admit, I think it's generally cooled down since the last time I was here, but I still sense some strong The-Assembly-Is-The-Evil-Empire-And-We-Should-Fight-It-To-The-Death vibes. But hey, maybe that's what this board is for and I'm the one who's in the wrong place. I hope that you guys have better things to do with your time than bash the assembly though, because even if it was horrible and "the worst thing that has ever happened" to you, it's really only worth so much time and energy.

A healthy disinterest in the life and times of the assembly is certainly refreshing to see.
I consider myself to be one who escaped relatively unscathed.
Having said that Emily, not everyone has such a resilient and resistant constitution as you. For many who underwent an assembly experience, total recovery will not come simply as a result of one's willing that it be so and for some will be a life-long process. Some of us could walk away from that era with nary a backward glance (and until the last year I certainly had) but others will experience a protracted time of recovery.
Based on what occured, they derseve our understanding an patience in my view.
A few recently posted poems on Assembly Reflections reminded my of this harsh reality.
Verne

p.s I agree that the BB ventures into quite a few other areas of discussion.