The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. –United Nations.org
Early in the last century ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh and successor to His Faith, travelled extensively in Europe, North America and Egypt speaking and writing to a myriad of peoples of all social/economic backgrounds emphasizing the need to remove artificial barriers that kept people apart. A couple of examples: “Cleanse ye your eyes, so that ye behold no man as different from yourselves. See ye no strangers; rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness. For each of the creatures is a sign of God, and it was by the grace of the Lord and His power that each did step into the world; therefore they are not strangers, but in the family; not aliens, but friends, and to be treated as such.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the world of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Bahá, that ignorance, enmity, hate and rancor may vanish from the world and the darkness of estrangement amidst the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to the Light of Unity.” --‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“Some animals are isolated and lead a separate existence away from their kind. But this is impossible for man. In his life and being, cooperation and association are essential. Through association and meeting we find happiness and development, individual and collective.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving-kindness for all who may cross your path.” – Abdu’l-Bahá
“They that are endued with sincerity and faithfulness should associate with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with joy and radiance, inasmuch as consorting with people hath promoted and will continue to promote unity and concord, which in turn are conducive to the maintenance of order in the world and to the regeneration of nations.” --Bahá’u’lláh
One of our biggest challenges is separating ourselves from people we see as having different points of view, yet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá encouraged us to listen to each other and seek out the truth together: “When you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one. Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts. Rather, search diligently for the truth and make all men your friends.”
Bahá’u’lláh wrote about essential unity--both physical and spiritual: “Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.” --Bahá’u’lláh