An icon of Mexico – celebrated from Arizona to Iowa

+ why do we have wisdom teeth? US Edition - Today's top story: Viva Guadalupe! Beyond Mexico, the Indigenous Virgin Mary is a powerful symbol of love and inclusion for millions of Latinos in the US [View in browser]( US Edition | 11 December 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Growing evidence Hamas committed sexual violence on Oct. 7]( - [In the 1970s, Norman Lear helped Americans bridge divides]( - [How cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger became the scents of winter holidays]( Lead story Nearly 500 years ago, an Indigenous peasant near Mexico City had a series of visions that would change his life – and shape the lives of millions of others. According to the Nican Mopohua, an Aztec text, a man named Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin reported that the Virgin Mary had appeared to him multiple times. But this wasn’t Mary as she was usually depicted in European churches. She was Indigenous – “la Virgen Morena,” a dark-haired, dark-skinned woman. The power of that image, which the Catholic Church has embraced, has [made the Virgin of Guadalupe an icon of love and inclusivity]( ever since – a powerful affirmation of the richness in Meso-American culture. In Mexico, she’s a national symbol. But, writes University of Iowa religious studies scholar Kristy Nabhan-Warren, many Latinos on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border see the Virgin of Guadalupe as a protector of “those who feel marginalized or oppressed” – and celebrations on her feast day, Dec. 12, stretch from Mexico City to Phoenix and Chicago. Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you]( Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose H. Gomez stands with people celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe’s feast day in 2022. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes [Viva Guadalupe! Beyond Mexico, the Indigenous Virgin Mary is a powerful symbol of love and inclusion for millions of Latinos in the US]( Kristy Nabhan-Warren, University of Iowa The famous apparition of the Virgin Mary has come to symbolize Mexico, but other groups – particularly migrants and Latinos north of the border – also feel a special connection to Guadalupe. Politics + Society - [Hamas’ use of sexual violence is an all-too-common part of modern war – but not in all conflicts]( Dyan Mazurana, Tufts University; Anastasia Marshak, Tufts University Sexual violence can be used as a weapon of war. Hamas’ use of sexual violence was likely meant to show its power over Israeli women and girls, and to humiliate Israeli men and Israel’s military. - [Israel is using mass displacement of Gazans as a tool of war – it could also serve long-term strategic goals]( Nicholas R. Micinski, University of Maine; Adam G. Lichtenheld, Stanford University; Kelsey Norman, Rice University Mass forced movement of people has been used in conflicts to serve three goals: population control, territorial expansion and as a sorting mechanism. All three could be in play in Gaza. - [Ex-Speaker McCarthy’s departure from Congress reads like Greek tragedy – but stars a ‘slight unmeritable man’ and not a hero]( Rachel Hadas, Rutgers University - Newark Kevin McCarthy, the only speaker of the House to be ousted, has quit Congress. The ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as Shakespeare, understood the price of ambition like McCarthy’s: humiliation. International - [‘You reach a point where you have nothing. You will just die’ – in East African refugee camps, food scarcity is a mortal concern]( Roger B. Alfani, Seton Hall University; Nicole Eggers, University of Tennessee Budget cuts have resulted in increased hunger in camps in Uganda, Burundi and Kenya that house refugees from across the region. Arts + Culture - [The Napoléon that Ridley Scott and Hollywood won’t let you see]( Marlene Daut, Yale University Leaving out the history of Napoléon’s brutal subjugation of Haiti is akin to making a movie about Hitler without mentioning the Holocaust. - [Norman Lear’s ’70s TV comedies brought people together to confront issues in a way Gen Z would appreciate]( Yalda T. Uhls, University of California, Los Angeles The TV producer showed how storytelling can bridge divides and serve as a beacon of truth in a complex world. Environment + Energy - [How cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger became the scents of winter holidays, far from their tropical origins]( Serina DeSalvio, Texas A&M University Spices have been prized commodities for centuries. Today, ‘warm’ flavors boost our health and spirits in fall and winter. Science + Technology - [Teens don’t know everything − and those who acknowledge that fact are more eager to learn]( Tenelle Porter, Rowan University Being aware of ignorance and fallibility can make people more teachable, and perhaps it could make people feel helpless and disempowered. - [How do pacemakers and defibrillators work? A cardiologist explains how they interact with the electrical system of the heart]( Virginia Singla, University of Pittsburgh Heart rates that are too slow or too fast can sometimes be lethal. Medical implants can help the heart get its rhythm back. - [Why do people have wisdom teeth?]( Ariadne Letra, University of Pittsburgh; Seth M. Weinberg, University of Pittsburgh Two dental experts explain that these furthest-back molars may be a not-so-necessary leftover from early human evolution. Trending on site - [Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup, is showing up in pregnant women living near farm fields – that raises health concerns]( - [Government and nonprofit workers are getting billions in student loan debt canceled through a public service program]( - [Conservatives’ ‘anti-woke’ alternative to Disney has finally arrived]( Reader Comments 💬 “An article like this would be a meaningful part of courses in high school political science. Waves of immigrants continue to arrive here with a reverence for democracy and tend more often to live out the full possibilities it provides. Meanwhile, the vast population of multigenerational U.S. adults live unaware, disinterested, or some nowadays, openly oppositional to it... Imagine if our nation’s youth understood that the U.S. democracy is not only a new order, but a highly unlikely one, as well. Imagine them being able to discern signs of autocratic threats to democracy and the dangers that accompany it. More young people might have a sense of purpose in their lives to strive to not only ‘keep’, but even work to improve our democracy.” – Gia Hall on the story, [Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an ‘experiment’ – and were unsure if it would survive]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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