The election of 2016 was an exceptionally hostile campaign. Now that it is finally over, where do we go from here? Are minority groups vulnerable to official discrimination? Are we doomed to become an even more polarized society? Hopefully not. Disagreements are inevitable but our political discourse need not descend into the gutter. I offer a few modest suggestions to mull over as we enter the holiday season.

First, let’s take a moment to appreciate our constitutional system, one that transfers power peacefully while also protecting our right to engage in critical speech. Our democracy has obvious flaws: the Electoral College overruled the popular vote in 2000 and it will almost certainly do so again in 2016. (The counting is still underway but Hillary Clinton is now more than 2 million votes ahead of Donald Trump in the popular vote.) The Electoral College is inherently undemocratic but difficult to change because it is so entrenched in our constitutional order.

On the other hand, the good news is that our civil rights are also firmly entrenched. Thus, while minorities who were targeted by the explosive campaign rhetoric understandably feel vulnerable, they can take some comfort in our Constitution. Our right to speak out against any unjust government policies is also firmly protected. In contrast, approximately 3 billion people live under authoritarian rule, where citizens risk detention (or worse) if they criticize their government. Our system is not perfect but it should be treasured.

Second, if we hope to improve our democracy then we must search for common ground and learn to empathize with those who do not share our political views. This month, I am trying to spend a bit of time every day collecting the plastic that has floated onto Kailua beach. It is a wonderful way to make new friends.

Yesterday morning I found myself chatting with a fellow beach walker who was also picking up plastic. We talked for 30 minutes and disagreed on almost every issue except our strong desire to protect our beach. By the end of our walk, I had a better understanding of her perspective. Working together on a shared goal, combined with active listening, can help to bridge almost any political divide.

Third, we need to appreciate the value of compromise. Some fundamental concepts — like the right to equal protection of the laws — are nonnegotiable. But I see opportunities for compromise on many other issues. Interestingly, the president-elect has backed away from some of his most alarming campaign rhetoric and appears to be searching for pragmatic solutions. He will likely discover that there are no simple solutions to problems like income disparity, climate change, or the rising cost of health care.

In order to make even modest progress on these complex issues, we all need to negotiate in good faith. We also should reassure our political representatives that we will not vilify them if they deviate from their party’s platform in order to reach meaningful compromises.

Finally, we must do our utmost to promote respectful political discourse. Perhaps I am naïve but I do not believe that the majority of people who voted for Donald Trump did so because they approved of his explosive rhetoric. I believe that most Trump supporters voted for him in spite of his campaign style and are now silently praying he will display better manners as president. In any event, if we do not want to see a repeat of the 2016 campaign, then voters must make it clear that we will not reward disrespectful behavior in the next election.

Meanwhile, we can set a positive example for our children and endeavor to treat one another with mutual respect and genuine kindness — regardless of how we voted in 2016.

Carole J. Petersen (carolep@hawaii.edu.) is director of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and a law professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii-Manoa.