This is just one more request I have, prior to the big vote tomorrow, for respect and civility — although I realize that a large percentage of the population has already voted.

Anyone who reads this column fairly regularly knows that I have a deep concern about the acerbic and nasty public discourse so prevalent in our nation.

You will have also noticed that my perspective and views have changed recently in that not too long ago I thought that we had been oversold on the notion that the political name calling and the political and cultural divisiveness in our land are worse than ever.

Well, I don’t think that anymore. I think things are really bad in this area.

And I think that all this negative language and energy weakens this great republic — the greatest nation earth, our immensely flawed nation, one which holds deep sin, which is woven with mistakes and injustice — and yet which is absolutely, as Abraham Lincoln called the U.S., “the last best of earth.”

I ask people — and here I speak directly to Easton people — whether you are voting for President Obama or Governor Romney, or Senator Brown or Elizabeth Warren, or Sean Bielat or Joseph Kennedy or David Rosa, or Claire Cronin or Dan Murphy, or Shaunna O’Connell or Sherry Costa-Hanlon, to be respectful of everyone’s views when the final tally is announced.

Well, actually, as well, please be respectful prior to the tally being announced.

And be especially careful in using social media. It is just too easy to post petty and nasty and rotten commentary on Facebook, or push it out on Twitter. On the Internet, too many of us, me included, are inclined to make comments we wouldn't make to a person when talking with him or her face to face, or even over the phone. 

Please remember that in many places around the globe, the best and bravest of our nation — the sons and daughters of our armed forces — put their lives on the line for us, and they defend Americans without regard to what political party you are a member, or whether you are a member of any political party.

And one thing for sure, when these men and women walk the line, and when they are on the front, they give fully of themselves with the main devotion and focus of protecting the man or woman on their left, and the man or woman on their right — and not one of these warriors gives a damn for whom their comrades voted for president or the local school committee.

After tomorrow we all have to live and work and hang out together.

After tomorrow there is so much for us to do together — no matter for whom we vote.

After tomorrow — as we enter late fall — we still have our book clubs, our civic organizations, the Ames Free Library, Oliver Ames High School athletics, the Patriots, the Celtics, maybe the Bruins; we still have neighbors who need us, and neighbors whom we need.

We still have youth sports fundraising drives. We still have walks through Borderland and Sheep Pasture. We still have all the wonderful preparing for the holidays.

We still have the weak and hurting who need our help. We still have places of worship where supporters of Obama and Romney will kneel alongside one another. We still have so many human service organizations that need our support and active involvement — and which don’t care if you are a liberal or conservative.

We are one people — one nation.

God Bless America.