I have watched and listened over the past several years, as public discourse and the language used by elected officials and their followers has steadily slipped into a kind of exchange that once would have never been allowed to see the light of day. Name calling, derisive and obscene categorizing of entire groups, palpable hatred and the desire for the annihilation of anyone who is not in agreement with certain points of view have taken us down a path to a vile smelling swamp of enmity and nihilism.

Nihilism is defined as “any viewpoint, or a family of views, that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence, namely knowledge, morality, or meaning.” The nihilist posits that human values are baseless, that life is meaningless, that knowledge is impossible, that education is useless, and that other highly regarded concepts are in fact pointless.

We could add to the list civility and honoring each other’s humanity, regardless of race, gender, education, social status, religion or political party. These, along with deep patriotism, were once sacred ideals that guided our speaking in the public square. Only in the shadows, corners and deep recesses of a civil society were the slanderous and insulting words uttered that now flow freely in the press and in other places. Point them out to anyone and oftentimes the response is, “I don’t give a [expletive].” Does anyone?

When communication between individuals and groups devolves into hateful and obscene terms, nihilism is the ultimate outcome. There is no possibility for workability. There is no inspiration and there are no high ideals that motivate young people. The old are disregarded and wisdom is trampled and discarded, into a junkyard of once highly valued treasures. Wisdom is laughed at and spit on and finally left to shrivel and die.

Free speech is one of this country’s long-held treasures. But free speech with no standards destroys the very foundations that these values have stood on for over 200 years. If we behave like barbarians, soon it is not just behavior. We are, in fact, barbarians, with anger, hatred, and resentment as our guiding lights. This is a call for respect and dignity in our discourse and in our journalistic choices.

People have different points of view, but words from readers and others need to be vetted in ways that uphold the best of who we are and who we have been, as the world’s greatest hope for freedom and equality. We cannot continue to belittle, demean and dehumanize those with whom we disagree. If we do, darkness will overtake us, and America will be no more.

This election was a devastation for many. I have not observed anything but sorrow, worry and great anxiety for the future. I have heard many speak of the need for restraint and respect for those on “the other side.” It seems to me that those who won might extend a bit of graciousness and understanding. Wisdom knows that the pendulum of all things swings back and forth throughout time and the only thing that can keep us from falling completely apart is a commitment to interact with a measure of respect and self- control. Please let us not forget that we are all part of the human family.

Rev. Julie G. Olmsted is pastor at the United Church of Bernardston.