It’s no secret. Watch any news program or open any newspaper. From the world leaders, to national political figures, to the average person on the street, there is consensus that the United States of America is politically polarized. And to the older generations, there is a common thread of remarks that indicate the polarization is greater than any time in recent history. This polarization has also crept into religion, pitting at times, three world religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) against each other to fuel and inflame the intensity of the divisiveness.  To the eight million Baha’is throughout the world, this polarization and divisiveness is in complete contradiction to the primary tenet of the Baha’i Faith: the unity of humankind. 

Under the umbrella of unity, partisan politics has no place in the Baha’i Faith. However, non-involvement in partisan politics does not mean members of the Baha’i Faith remain indifferent to social issues or passively accept injustices. Baha’is have the right and obligation to speak out about social principles that are for the greater good – particularly those that are in alignment with the principles of the Baha’i Faith. These Baha’i principles include such things as the equality of men and women and a spiritual solution to economic injustice. 

The social issues for which Baha’is advocate are non-partisan. Indeed, Baha’is do not take sides in partisan political disputes, nor do they do break laws in the process of presenting their views.  When advocating for change for the greater good, Baha’is express themselves with courtesy and civility – which includes respecting the rights of others. In general, Baha’is strive to be committed to serving their fellow citizens in ways that will reflect a nobility of character and high-mindedness to all humanity.            

Baha’u’ullah (Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith) spoke about the unity of humanity in these words: “Ye are all the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch…. Let not man glory in this that he loves his country, but that he loves his kind.” Abdu’l-Baha, the oldest son of Baha’u’llah and a central figure in the Baha’i Faith, elaborated on this teaching: “Let them purify their sight and behold all humankind as leaves and blossoms and fruits of the tree of being. Let them at all times concern themselves with doing a kindly thing for one of their fellows, offering to someone love, consideration, thoughtful help. Let them see no one as their enemy, or as wishing them ill, but think of all humankind as their friends; regarding the alien as an intimate, the stranger as a companion, staying free of prejudice, drawing no lines.” 

The solution for rising above the divisive discourse in American politics is to turn to the wisdom that has been available to us throughout the ages. Sun Bear, a Native American (Chippewa tribe) said, “I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, but rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man.” 

Sun Bear is right about the measure of civilization being based on how we relate.  If we want to rise above the polarization of our divided country, let’s turn to a basic guiding principle that can help our country rise above partisan politics and bring us together in unified relationships – a guiding principle that has come from the greatest “leaders” the world has known:

* Baha’u’llah (Bahá’í Faith): “And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.”

* Buddha (Buddhism): “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” 

* Jesus Christ (Christianity): “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

* Krishna (Hinduism): “One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self.  This, in brief, is the rule of Righteousness.”

* Muhammed (Islam): “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”    

* Moses (Judaism): “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Jacque and Kerry Hart, Baha’i Faith