There are times when conversations about the most pressing issues of the day are like viewing the movie “Groundhog Day.”Climate change, the second amendment, gay marriage, gender equality, race and other vital topics which require reflection and dialogue are reduced to sound bites and slogans. Rigid positions are taken and instead of reasonable discourse which can lead to solutions labels are placed on the foreheads of those who oppose partisan views. The end result of this is that we are in a quagmire where nothing changes .Ignoring those who espouse diverse opinions will not make the challenges evaporate, and it is time for reasonable persons to take the first step to open the conversation in friendly respectful ways.