There is always, without fail, a discourse that fires to life over the meaning and delivery of a simple television commercial. This year's Super Bowl is no exception. But while there are those who, of course without debate, believe Dolly Parton damaged her image by reworking the lyrics of "9 to 5" for a spot about people seeking to better themselves in their off hours, or those who need to dig deep and "discover" an auto insurance company making light of workplace harassment, one ad by Jeep and featuring the legendary Bruce Springsteen has exploded to become fighting words. Of course, everything that takes a destructive argumentative tone these days is centered on politics. While the commercial makes not one mention of anything political, it has, no shock here, been ripped into by those who see it as nothing more than a political attack.

As North Carolina rates a "Bravo" moment in deciding to cease issuing license plates with the Confederate flag, something in their announcing statement took me to pause. Where they noted the plates "have the potential to offend those who view them". It's the word "potential" that is at the center of the discussion, at least to me. How could it not insult just some people, but most people? How about everyone?

The road before us is loaded with land mines, however I hope that as we struggle to make sense of it all, we might even learn to communicate again. Look, not everyone will get it. A lot of people will rail against it and continue on their verbally and textually destructive paths. The hope is they will begin, even at the smallest point, to become the minority. I hope that happens in the short life span I have remaining. I'd like to be here and see it.