Return of the Salon

When was the last time you had a genuine conversation--an experience not of mere self-assertion but of speaking and listening as though you had something both to offer and to receive? Our habits of language define us, but the pace of our lives is such that the simple gestures of listening carefully and speaking prudently are amazingly rare. The Friday Night Salon aims at being an alternative to the urban rush that denies the civilizing graces of community. We begin with good food and drink, then take our places in a circle for discussion about a variety of relevant, substantial topics. It's a welcome way to end the Dallas workweek.

Discussion topics for September 5, 2008:
1. Does civilization diminish a people's courage over time?
2. Has globalism altered our obligations to the stranger?
3. G. Washington's farewell warning against "the mischiefs of foreign intrigue": political naïveté or visionary counsel?