A local born and raised Bosnian was telling me that a common Bosnian mentality is: When hit with stone, hit back with bread.
The idea being similar to the one Mahatma Gandhi is commonly attributed to saying: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
But what this local Bosnian continued with was: “…But don’t let forgiveness and kindness lead to naiveté and vulnerability.”
Because the man who goes around making people blind, without any remorse, care, or heed needs to be confronted, challenged, and held accountable.
Bosnia is an unbelievably beautiful place. And since I’ve arrived, every single Bosnian I’ve met has hit me with bread. And more bread. And even after I was full—more bread after that. The hospitality is unmatched.
One thing you’ll notice about the city, however, is that there are still architectural “scars” scattered throughout from a time when they were hit with stone… and then barraged with stone during the Bosnian War.
…Abandoned buildings with bullet holes standing next to fully renovated apartments. Modern restaurants sitting under structures that have massive holes from bombings. Once beautifully designed, impressive feats of architectural ingenuity and creativity, stand ruined… behind vine-filled fences… right in the heart of the city.
Why are they still there and not torn down, fully renovated, or at least patched up so as not to be on display for all to see?
I can’t know all the factors, but at the very least I suspect they’re there because scars are meant to serve as reminders.
…That maybe when someone hits you with stone, you do your due diligence before you hit them back with bread.