We know. We’ve seen the ugly face of political violence firsthand. We still mourn the cost and remember a husband, a colleague, a friend — gone in a split second from an assassin’s bullet.

We also know hope. We’ve prayed together. Joined together with our neighbors for rallies, conversations, concerts and parades as part of healing a divide fueled by raging political rhetoric.

We in Butler County know.

With the rest of the nation, we face the wake of yet another life lost to political violence and extreme intolerance. While others struggle to find a path forward, we know ours.

On Sunday, the citizens of Butler County continued our path forward. A vigil was held in Slippery Rock to mourn the loss of a father, husband and friend cut down by political violence.

It is the first of many steps.

We must remember that, despite race, color, ideology or creed, we are one nation working toward a future together and not enemies trying to dominate and crush each other.

We are the neighbor lending you a cup of sugar or giving a simple hello as we pass each other on the way to work. We’re the people holding the door for you on your way into the store as a simple courtesy or the cashier telling you to have a good day. We’re the people interacting with each other with civility and kindness every day in so many small ways.

The rise of social media may have dampened that. It often creates a tunnel vision and a world where cruel words are commonly spoken and those different from us are villainized. But we can choose to turn down that noise.

Agree with him or not, Charlie Kirk didn’t deserve to die for his conservative beliefs. Agree with her or not, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman didn’t deserve to die for being a Democratic lawmaker. Agree with him or not, Gov. Josh Shapiro didn’t deserve someone trying to kill him by setting fire to the home where he and his family were sleeping.

We urge Butler County to stay on its path of healing. We hope our community can continue to rise above the angry words and the contentious political divide.

We’re all in this together. And we all deserve to be heard and treated as neighbors.

— JP, DJS