In two days, Americans will head to the polls to exercise one of our country’s greatest traits — the ability to have a voice in our government’s leadership.

Much has been said and written during this election season — some of it vile and bitter, some partisan and biting.

But despite the unusually sharp criticism candidates have used against one another, and despite the deep political chasms that seem to separate large swaths of Americans, we remain a single country, united in our freedoms.

When Tuesday’s election is over and all the votes are cast, we hope — and pray — that our country’s divisiveness heals quickly.

Growing discontent for and incivility toward people who do not share our views has become the norm. In fact, this is very un-American.

We are a country of rebels, yes, but rebels who came here for a common purpose — to flee an oppressive regime that restricted religious beliefs and the ability of one to speak their minds openly.

At our core, we still believe these traits drive our country today.

But somehow we’ve lost our cohesiveness. We must regain that and understand that down deep our similarities outweigh our differences.

That realization could begin as soon as the results of the election are confirmed if we can collectively look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we like the country we see.

If we don’t, fortunately, we have the ability to change it, but that change begins with each citizen’s attitude and respect toward one another.