I have never known anyone who lived in Bosnia in the 1980s, but I can imagine that the arguments over Yugoslavia's makeup might have felt like 'a little political tension' back then.
It's true that the US has a lot going for it. No enemies to its north or south, still the largest economy, high levels of education, etc. At the same time, standards of living have seen a large drop over the last two years. This appears to be intensifying the arguments over social issues, and increasing incitement to violence. What I see when I look at places that are not the Americas or Western Europe is that the peace and wealth people take for granted can be lost so easily.
It's true that the US has a lot going for it. No enemies to its north or south, still the largest economy, high levels of education, etc. At the same time, standards of living have seen a large drop over the last two years. This appears to be intensifying the arguments over social issues, and increasing incitement to violence. What I see when I look at places that are not the Americas or Western Europe is that the peace and wealth people take for granted can be lost so easily.