We went to celebrate it with him and then continue the relationship to discuss the differences and try to someday see eye-to-eye. You don't go to a celebration for someone and yell at them.

It is so parochial, what's going on, in my opinion. It's so small-minded.

Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.

I'm sure it's something we'll continue to talk about. It may possibly get to that, someday.

I don't want to soft-pedal our differences: they are deep and important, and the issues we discuss affect people's lives in powerful ways. But our common goal of civil dialogue, together with our personal rapport, enables us to maintain a friendly relationship despite these differences.

She loves Oprah, and she's going to be in Chicago for her birthday anyway. What better way to continue to celebrate.