[...] As leaders in our communities, we have a responsibility to break down discrimination and dispel hatred. We also have this incredible opportunity to understand and empower those around us. &nbsp; Imagine for a minute you are meeting someone new. You get together for coffee and start to talk, to learn about each other, to share personal information. You reveal something important about yourself, thinking it will help your new friend understand you better. &nbsp; You say, I am a Christian, a republican, a veteran, a doctor, a father, or an American. Your new friend responds, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care. Whatever.&rdquo; This statement probably means that your revelation changes nothing about how your new friend feels about you, but it still stings a little, and you find yourself wondering if it changes how you feel about her.&nbsp; [...]