The People Have Spoken. Now We Must Move Forward.

What makes America so strong is the freedom to coexist in a country of diverse views, secure in our rights as citizens to elect our leaders through a democratic process in which power is peacefully transferred. We should never take this remarkable privilege for granted.

This is a good time to remember that our society is not a zero-sum game. We are not, and never should be, a nation of winners and losers. At the same time, those whose preferred candidates were not chosen can never be made to feel disenfranchised by those whose candidates will next take office. (I say this as someone who grew up in South Africa and knows from direct experience the danger of a disenfranchised people.) Instead, and especially now, we must strive to find common ground and move forward together.

As I wrote before the election, we must approach democracy in the spirit of civility, which not only allows opposing voices to be heard but welcomes different viewpoints. And this begins with respect. We may not agree with each other, but we need to respect and understand why our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and family members may have supported a particular candidate over another candidate.

This is all the more important today, given the tenor of the campaign we just lived through. The passion underlying the conviction of our beliefs may not fade anytime soon. Yet we must find a constructive way to channel our passion so we don't risk greater dislocation of an already divided nation.

Where is this road to a common destination? It starts by actively engaging those outside our political party, geography, industry, and background with a sincere desire, in the eternal words of St. Francis, not so much to be understood as to understand.

We can take inspiration from the profound words of one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, who practiced the virtue of seeking out opposing points of view. In his first Inaugural Address, Lincoln reminded us that "we are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."  

My wife and I were led to the beacon of America because this nation exudes hope and optimism. As Americans, we believe we can achieve anything we set our mind to. We are a good and generous people. Let's set our mind to the vital task of understanding what's on the mind of those who disagree with us, not so much to strengthen our argument but to strengthen our democracy.? 

Stanley M. Bergman is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Henry Schein, Inc., a Fortune 500 company and the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, with nearly 19,000 Team Schein Members and operations or affiliates in 33 countries. www.henryschein.com