SILENCE: The meeting house was quiet as a grave at midnight. Two dozen souls sat in wooden pews, waiting for the Spirit to move them. In this racket, silence was the only currency that mattered. And brother, it was worth more than all the world's noisy bars.

This much is getting clear: AI serves those who already know how to think, dream, imagine. For those who can't—or won't—do the hard work of thinking, it becomes a crutch that weakens them further. I already feel the divide growing.

The Quakers had blood on their hands before they found their conscience. It wasn't just guilt that cleaned the slate—it was Black resistance that showed them the way out of the dark alley they'd been walking down for 120 years. I like the company of people who work at getting it right, even when they fumble. Next best thing to being perfect is knowing when you're a fool and doing something about it.

Friends Journal

Black Resistance to Quaker Enslavement

Explore how Black resistance, through brave confrontation, escape, and advocacy helped propel the path toward abolition in Quaker communities in Am...

This resonates. Used to be a devoted NPR listener until the performance became too obvious (10 years ago) - same with TED talks. There's something off when it feels scripted. It's not just NPR though. Watch someone claim to be a free thinker then discover they're into Bitcoin, CrossFit, carnivore diet, and Zyn, (bonus points for testicle tanning). Checking too many boxes.

A Friendly Letter - Chuck Fager -- Writer, Editor

Why I Think NPR Will Survive, But Why I Don’t Really Care - A Friendly Letter

When I was working with liberal Quakers, I led many workshops, gave many talks. As a highlight, once a group was warmed up and in good spirits, I o...