Clearly stating where you stand is a good thing.

But when opinions differ, if you immediately slap a label on people who hold a different position, you're actually overlooking the importance of communication.

To communicate effectively, you first need to see the values you share with the other side, and recognize that every issue has more than just two options. Then, together with those who seem to oppose you, take a step back.

This process can be uncomfortable for everyone, but it gives society as a whole a chance to move forward a little. In that way, we can head toward a direction that no one is fully happy with, but that is still decent—a direction of "working together for the common good."