Let’s not go down that road. Instead, remember, as former President Barack Obama said, we rise or fall together, as one nation and as one people. It might not feel that way right now to millions of Americans reeling after an intense election. But democracy needs unity to survive.

A 2019 Pew Research Center poll found most people didn’t necessarily think officials of their own political party needed to treat the other party with respect. Of course, they thought — by wide margins — officials of the other party should treat their own with respect.

Does anyone see the logical flaw here?

A 2022 University of Chicago study concluded that democracy relies on people who disagree with one another listening to others’ viewpoints, having discussions and finding political compromise.

Have we seen much of that lately? Those who vilify people of other political persuasions are not acting as true patriots. Even worse, those who vilify or attack people of a different religion, ethnicity or race are not acting with basic decency.

People have more interests in common than issues that separate them. At a time when it appears Americans will be encouraged to fear each other, we need to find our better angels and make this a nation where democracy can sink ever-deeper roots.

The country’s history is laced with periods when various groups looked upon fellow Americans as the enemy and resorted to antagonism or violence. We shouldn’t succumb to that urge now, but rather work to uphold the timeless ideals that, at the best of times, hold this nation together.

The day after Election Day, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called on Americans to respect one another.

That’s good advice. Political extremism leads to the dehumanizing of others. That’s not fertile soil for democracy.

Respect is.