The parallels between the United States and Bosnia, a deeply divided post-war society, are many and alarming. Living in Bosnia and learning from and working with Bosnian peacemakers has given me a different vantage point to reflect about the challenges and divisions in the United States, now more than ever. I’m continuing to learn from local peace activists about how Bosnians think about group dynamics, the challenges that each ethnic and religious group face in Bosnia, and how they deal with the past in constructive ways to move together toward a better, shared future.

So, what are some things that Bosnians are teaching me that might be relevant to what’s happening in the States?

Black lives matter. Until they matter equally with every other life, in practice and policy, Peace Catalyst will continue to work for structural change. The tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd should compel all of us to work for equality and justice in our world, and they should also prompt inner reflection. How did we get to this point in history? Why have we been silent for so long?

Emotions run high and reasonable discourse runs low when the subjects of the travel ban or immigration come up. But whether you protest or praise particular policies, one thing is undebatable: both Muslims and Mexicans/Latinos face blatant discrimination in Trump’s America. Why is this the case, and how should Republican and Democrat followers of Jesus respond?