Good morning, digital neighbors! Happy Friday! I am not a fan of the word tolerance, which has been in use so much, if not all, of my adult life. To me, it always seemed like a concession word. “I tolerate ______.” I don’t really want to respect, like, or entertain this idea, person, or reality, but I will indulge it even though I don’t care for it.
I guess I prefer genuine kindness and curiosity over tolerance. It doesn’t mean I have to like or appreciate everything; we have the freedom to be discerning and selective. But if I can discern that something new is not a threat or danger to me, why shouldn’t I be curious about it? The agreement on what is dangerous or corrupting is up for debate and fodder for the culture wars. I am a big fan of “you do you and I will do me,” and as long as we aren’t being criminal and malicious in our private lives, carry on! Anyway, a Friday reflection for our friends and neighbors.
I am glad you made my neighbour
different from me;
a different coloured skin,
a different shaped face,
a different response to you.
I need my neighbour
to teach me about You.
He knows all the things I don’t know.
MONICA FURLONG
Ridgway, Colorado- Thomas Morse - Unsplash
Today marks the three hundred and thirtieth birthday of the Frenchman François-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire (1694-1778).
Born into a bourgeois family during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643-1715), Voltaire suffered tragedy at a young age when his mother died. Never close with his father or brother, Voltaire exhibited a rebellious attitude toward authority from his youth. His brilliant mind was fostered in the care of the Society of Jesus, who introduced him to the joys of literature and theater. Despite his later criticisms against the Church, Voltaire, throughout his life, fondly recalled his dedicated Jesuit teachers.
Although he spent time as a civil servant in the French embassy to the Hague, Voltaire’s main love was writing—an endeavor where he excelled in various genres, including poetry, which led to his appointment as the royal court poet for King Louis XV. Widely recognized as one of the greatest French writers, and even hyperbolically referred to by ...
Padre - Tom Miller invites you to a Coffee Talk, Speakeasies, Schmoozes, Tea Times, Afterhours and other gatherings.
https://teams.live.com/meet/93792382189049?p=DiBHsYfuECPgDrG7vO
2026 Coffee Talk with the ADD Irregulars
Thursday, January 1, 2026
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (CST)
Occurs every day starting 1/1 until 12/31/2027
Coffee Talk - Daily beginning at 6:00 AM Central Time Zone - USA
White Pilled Wednesday - A break from the heaviness of news and current events to focus upon things more personal & positive for the first hour of Coffee Talk.
Afternoon Chats - Most Tuesday, Friday & Sundays 2:00 PM Central
Other chats as posted in the community.
