(The actual problem is nicely highlighted in this article's most popular Reader Picks comments) There is a popular narrative about what it means to be conserva

(The actual problem is nicely highlighted in this article's most popular Reader Picks comments) There is a popular narrative about what it means to be conservative, liberal, progressive, etc. This narrative is a small simple band in a vastly complex spectrum of views. Unfortunately, we have come to the point where the narrative is being echoed so much that it's impossible to have a conversation framed outside the popular narrative. We have all been trained and self-trained to pigeonhole each other based on these meaningless labels to either a) dismiss each other or b) rally together to dismiss the "other". The one thing that we can't do is suspend our emotional biases and sincerely listen to alternate narratives.