Author / Christian Monzon
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The Collapse of a Society
By Christian Monzón, Executive DirectorArtwork by Jinny Park, Design Lead A construction project began in a city in the Maya lowlands in Southern Mexico sometime long before Europeans arrived, perhaps to commemorate a local ruler; perhaps a god; or perhaps both, as many ancient Mayan rulers viewed themselves as human manifestations of the divine.… -
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Political Expression in the NFL
When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke following the murder of George Floyd, nobody would realistically have thought he would acknowledge systemic racism, racialized policing, or even say the words “race” or “Black.” In fact, he confirmed what most probably expected, releasing a forced statement on May 30 offering condolences to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud…
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Habif in the World of COVID-19
I set my Monday morning alarm for 10 A.M. It goes off, and I decide I want a few more minutes. Slowly, a few minutes turn into a few more hours. To wake myself up, I go on Facebook, and then Snapchat, and then watch a few YouTube videos. I skip my first class because…
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The Myth of the Latino Vote
After the Nevada caucus, many declared Bernie Sanders the overwhelming favorite, and rightfully so. He completely obliterated his opponents in the most diverse state so far during the primary process, not only leading in delegates but imposing his authority on the still-large pool of candidates. It changed him from serious contender to, at the time,…
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Coral Bleaching: Loss of Color, Loss of Life
Somewhere in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a yellow fish just emerged behind a bright pink coral. A nearby black-tipped reef shark (with a remora under its belly) chases a school of bright blue fish as a jet-black stonefish hides in the sand below and an orange scorpionfish swims amidst the chaos. Somewhere else though, the…
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MORENA: The Fight for Mexico’s Soul
My Dad grew up in Celaya, Guanajuato, a central Mexican city of half a million people in a region affectionately known as La Cuna de Independencia—the cradle of Mexican independence and the Mexican heartland. He lived near the city center, where street vendors sold tacos and tamales, and tortillerias and carnicerias sold daily fresh tortillas…
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Connecting Around the Campfire
As the subtle orange light of the campfire flickered a soft glow onto my face, I found myself deep in thought. I found myself in my own universe, free from the chaos of the rest of the world, hypnotized by the glow, lost in my own thoughts and completely focused on those around me. The…
