Chayenne Polimédio, Author at Pacific Standard

Home Archives for Chayenne Polimédio

Social Justice

The Political Polarization That Elected Jair Bolsonaro Still Hangs Over Brazil’s Democracy

The left-right divide—a healthy feature of a pluralist political system—is so toxic now that divergence of opinion has surpassed the realm of policymaking.

Chayenne Polimédio

Activists protest on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling upholding the Trump administration's restriction of travel to the U.S. from predominantly Muslim countries.

Social Justice

Can Compassion Become a Central Part of American Politics?

The 2020 election cycle is already bringing to light the innate conflict in our political system between individualism and policies that benefit entire communities.

Chayenne Polimédio

Julian Castro, former secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and San Antonio mayor, announces his candidacy for president in 2020.

Social Justice

What Role Will Religion Play for Democratic Presidential Candidates in 2020?

Pete Buttigieg and Julián Castro have made their faith a pillar of their political platforms, signaling potentially larger shifts within American politics.

Chayenne Polimédio

President Donald Trump speaks during the 2019 National Prayer Breakfast on February 7th, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

Social Justice

Faith and Religion in Public Life Are Not Replacements for Reform

The National Prayer Breakfast is one of the few events that attempts to highlight unity over partisan divides, but prayers don't result in meaningful policy changes.

Chayenne Polimédio

High school students from New Jersey hold American flags as they attend the March For Our Lives rally just north of Columbus Circle in New York City. Thousands of demonstrators, including students, teachers, and parents are gathering in Washington, New York City, and other cities across the country for an anti-gun violence rally organized by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting.

Social Justice

Can We Rebuild Community in an Age of Division?

The erosion of social capital has weakened some of America's most entrenched civic organizations and furthered a sense of individualism among its citizens.

Chayenne Polimédio

Supporters of Brazilian right-wing presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro display a banner reading "My Vote Is Secret" as they gather in front of the Israelita Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Social Justice

The Increasingly Fraught State of Brazil’s Presidential Elections

The outcome of this year's election will likely set the stage for the murky years to come, be those years of recovery—or persistent chaos.

Chayenne Polimédio

Neymar Jr. of Brazil reacts during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group E match between Brazil and Costa Rica.

News in Brief

How Corruption Has Dampened Brazilian Affection for the World Cup

Brazilians have become increasingly disenchanted with soccer as political scandals continue to cloud the country's news cycle.

Chayenne Polimédio

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Make America Great Again Rally on March 10th, 2018, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

Social Justice

Church and State: Is the Trump Administration Giving Religion an Outsized Role in Public Policy?

Based on recent actions by the president, it appears Trump's idea of creating opportunities for religious values in America involves turning religion into an arm of the state.

Chayenne Polimédio

Social Justice

Re-Conceptualizing Sacred Spaces

Churches are centers for community gatherings, but as less people remain affiliated to specific religions they need to adapt to continue connecting people.

Chayenne Polimédio

Social Justice

Church Attendance and the Decline of Civic Spaces

With fewer Americans identifying as religious, communities are losing a valuable third space for connecting people socially and civically.

Chayenne Polimédio