I caution against beginning or ending a quotation with ellipses.

The ending is nearer than you think, and it is already written. All that we have left to choose is the correct moment to begin.

In every end, there is also a beginning.

Still ending, and beginning still

We did the whole movie impromptu. We came up with a beginning, an ending and filled in the middle.

Certainly there is debate about what constitutes drought and the beginning and ending of a drought. But I wouldn't characterize it as a controversy, just honest discussion and debate.