Let the salon begin!

Dearly beloved and highly esteemed friends,

It is my great pleasure to announce the opening of Madame Diderot's Salon; as you well know, the Salon was held many years ago in the home of Madame Diderot, who played host to the philosophes of the 18th century - the greatest minds of their day. The discussed issues of the utmost import; the rights of man; the directions their societies were taking; the attributes of the perfect society; the ideal government. I feel that, in our day as in theirs, these questions are vitally important and deserve serious consideration.
And so I have invited you to join me in dialogue. Feel free to post whatever you wish - a rebuttal, an analysis, a novel idea, an essay. I hope that the Salon reborn will provide opportunity for each of you to put to use your formidable talents in writing (don't try to hide behind modesty - I know what you are capable of), and also give us a way to stay in touch, intellectually and emotionally, wherever our lives may take us.
Without further ado, let the Salon begin!