In India, WhatsApp is a dangerous political tool

In India, WhatsApp is a weapon of antisocial hatred [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 23 April 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note In the wake of political violence in Sri Lanka, the government there shut down access to social media services. In India, where national elections are underway, the governing party is using social media very differently, writes Rohit Chopra, a scholar of Indian media – to [stir up partisanship and political support](, and possibly even violence. University of Maryland, Baltimore County folklorist Ashley Minner was born and raised in an East Baltimore neighborhood filled with so many Lumbee Indians that locals dubbed it “the reservation.” But today, the forces of economics, gentrification and displacement have caused many of the original residents to move. [Minner tells the story of her quest to map and reconstruct the old neighborhood]( so future generations can learn about one of the largest groupings of Indians from the same tribe in an American city. For more than two decades now, people serving time have been prohibited from using federal student aid known as Pell Grants. Criminal justice scholar Andrea Cantora, who leads a prison education program in Maryland, explains why [providing Pell Grants to those behind bars is a worthy investment](. Jeff Inglis Science + Technology Editor Top stories Smartphones are a conduit for misinformation about the Indian election. AP Photo/Manish Swarup [In India, WhatsApp is a weapon of antisocial hatred]( Rohit Chopra, Santa Clara University India's parliamentary elections, now underway, will show how social media is affecting Indian society and government. Members of East Baltimore Church of God, which was founded by Lumbee Indians, and was once located in the heart of ‘the reservation,’ in the 1700 block of E. Baltimore Street. Photo courtesy of Rev. Robert E. Dodson Jr., Pastor, East Baltimore Church of God [A quest to reconstruct Baltimore’s American Indian ‘reservation’]( Ashley Minner, University of Maryland, Baltimore County With her childhood neighborhood undergoing redevelopment, displacement and gentrification, a folklorist is working to preserve the history of a unique, urban community of Lumbee Indians. Research shows prison education lessens the chances that inmates will return to prison after their release. Elaine Thompson/AP [Why federal student aid should be restored for people in prison]( Andrea Cantora, University of Baltimore For people in prison to have a better chance at earning a living upon release, Congress should lift a longstanding ban on federal student aid for those serving time, a criminal justice scholar argues. Politics + Society - [Can the census ask if you’re a citizen? Here’s what’s at stake in the Supreme Court battle over the 2020 census]( Jonathan Entin, Case Western Reserve University For the first time in decades, the 2020 census will include a question asking whether or not each counted person is a citizen. On April 23, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on this idea. - [‘I’m not a traitor, you are!’ Political argument from the Founding Fathers to today’s partisans]( Jeffrey Selinger, Bowdoin College US history is filled with instances where one partisan side charges that the other side's positions will lead to national ruin. Now, both sides accuse the other of betraying their country. - [Japan’s next emperor is a modern, multilingual environmentalist]( Constantine Nomikos Vaporis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Japan's 86-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicates on April 30 — an exceedingly rare event for this ancient monarchy. Can his son, Prince Naruhito, give Japan's royal family a modern makeover? Economy + Business - [FUCT gets day in court as SCOTUS considers dropping slippery moral standard when granting trademarks]( Megan M Carpenter, University of New Hampshire A trademark law scholar explains why the impossible-to-apply standard, dating back to the early 20th century, is ineffective and needs to be abolished. Ethics + Religion - [What Leonardo’s depiction of Virgin Mary and Jesus tells us about his religious beliefs]( Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, Georgetown University Leonardo da Vinci emphasized the naturalness of the relationship of Jesus and Mary in his art, while also inviting viewers into a religious message. Science + Technology - [Understanding the periodic table through the lens of the volatile Group I metals]( Erwin Boschmann, IUPUI If you are intimidated by the periodic table, then this introduction through the first column of elements will give you a feel for how and why the elements are arranged in this order. From our International Editions - [Data, statistics and hydrology can reveal key truths about Lake Chad]( Frederi G. Viens, Michigan State University Scientists are trying to figure out what risks changes in Lake Chad's levels pose to people in the region. - [Who are Sri Lanka’s Muslims?]( Andreas Johansson, Lund University A new chapter of violence has begun in Sri Lanka and old divisions may yet again escalate further. - [Sri Lanka attacks: government’s social media ban may hide the truth about what is happening]( Meera Selva, University of Oxford In a country with a weak press, social media played a key role in exposing the truth and building bridges between Sri Lanka's different ethnic and religious groups. Today’s quote ["Sri Lanka’s Christians have a long history that reflects the dynamics of colonialism as well as present-day ethnic and religious tensions."]( [Who are Sri Lanka's Christians?]( Mathew Schmalz College of the Holy Cross [Mathew Schmalz] [Support The Conversation. We rely on donations to bring you knowledge-based, ethical journalism]( [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111