War is raging around the world, and we’re heading into an election season that threatens to be as mean and divisive as the one in 2020. It’s fair to ask is anyone working to stop the fighting and bring our warning political factions to some common ground of decency and mutual respect.

The answer is yes, but they need some help.

PennLive is trying to set the right tone with the weekly Battleground PA podcasts on the 2024 election season that are carried on YouTube and on podcast platforms like Spotify. PennLive’s Outreach & Opinion Editor Joyce M. Davis leads a lively debate each week with Republican Jeffrey Lord and Democrat Rogette Harris, who do their best to model civil political discourse on issues that can make anyone hot under the collar.

And there are many community leaders hard at work trying to unite instead of divide us. The Baha’i community is chief among them. They deserve to be applauded for the many activities they sponsor in our region from their annual “Harmony Walk “to the “Celebrating World Religion Day” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Penbrook United Church of Christ, 56 Banks St., Harrisburg.

While people of different religions are shooting at each other around the world, Harrisburg’s Baha’i community is partnering with the Interreligious Forum of Greater Harrisburg to bring them together to share their beliefs through music. They’re even streaming the event live on Facebook for the world to see how Christians, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Bahai’s and followers of so many other faiths can not only tolerate each other but find joy in sharing their cultures and faith.

The Baha’i are not alone in working as peacemakers in our region. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is known for its good works that include an annual blood drive on Sept. 11, neighborhood cleanup drives, and community dinners. Ahmadiyya Muslims are holding a “Voices for Peace” dinner at 5:40 p.m. Saturday to pray for peace in the Middle East, and they’re throwing open the doors at the Hadee Mosque, 245 Division St., to anyone who would like to attend.

Politics is a big divider, but Braver Angels is actively at work in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation organizing conversations among people of opposing political views to lessen tensions and learn how to simply talk to each other. Braver Angels Lower Susquehanna Alliance had an event 10:30 a.m. - on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Bosler Memorial Library in Carlisle. Their theme was spot on: “Depolarizing Within.” If any progress is to be made in reducing the divides among us, it must start from within.

We also laud the good work of Beth El Temple that is pulling together interfaith leaders for its annual Freedom Seder. Each year, Beth El calls people to share a meal together and discuss top issues impacting our community, with a focus on issues of social justice and civil rights.

This year’s Freedom Seder is being planned for 6 p.m. Sunday, April 16 at the Beth El Temple, 2637 N. Front St. People from diverse political, racial, faith, and cultural perspectives will demonstrate how to disagree without turning it into hate. They’ll eat, sing, and pray together in full knowledge they are unique human beings who see the world differently. But instead of screaming and cursing each other, they will take time to speak softly and listen with open minds.

We urge our readers throughout the commonwealth to take note of what the Baha’i, Ahmadiyya, Braver Angels and Beth El communities are doing to promote peace here and abroad. We’ll live in a far better world if we all try to do the same.

PennLive