Provide an example of domestic terrorism including details (who, what, where, when, why, and how) that has occurred in the USA. Do not use the insurgence on the Capital as an example. Do you believe that domestic terrorism is a threat in the United States? Why or why not? Which do you believe is more dangerous to the American public, domestic terrorism or international terrorism? Explain. About 250-300 words.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Example of Domestic Terrorism:
The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing stands as one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in the United States. On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols orchestrated a truck bombing targeting the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, resulting in the deaths of 168 individuals and injuring over 600 others. McVeigh and Nichols, motivated by anti-government sentiments and a desire to retaliate against the federal government’s handling of the Waco siege in 1993, carried out this heinous act by parking a rental truck filled with explosives outside the federal building.
Is Domestic Terrorism a Threat in the United States?
Yes, domestic terrorism continues to pose a significant threat to the United States. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have identified a range of domestic terrorist threats, including those from white supremacists, anti-government extremists, and individuals motivated by various ideological beliefs. These groups have demonstrated their capacity for violence through attacks on religious institutions, government buildings, and public spaces, posing a real danger to the safety and security of American citizens.
Comparison of Domestic Terrorism and International Terrorism:
While both domestic terrorism and international terrorism present serious threats to national security, domestic terrorism may pose a more immediate and pervasive threat to the American public. Domestic terrorist groups often operate within the country, making it easier for them to plan and execute attacks without the logistical challenges faced by international terrorist organizations. Additionally, the diversity of ideologies and grievances that motivate domestic terrorists contributes to a complex threat landscape that is difficult to monitor and counter effectively.
Moreover, domestic terrorism has the potential to sow division within American society, erode trust in institutions, and undermine social cohesion. Unlike international terrorism, which often originates from external sources, domestic terrorism is deeply intertwined with domestic political and social dynamics, making it more challenging to address effectively.
In conclusion, while both domestic and international terrorism present serious threats to the United States, domestic terrorism’s immediate accessibility, diverse ideological motivations, and potential for societal destabilization make it a particularly dangerous threat to the American public. Efforts to combat domestic terrorism must involve comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of radicalization and extremism while also enhancing law enforcement capabilities to prevent and respond to domestic terrorist acts.
