You are to complete a presentation directed to the incoming Secretary of Homeland security describing a terrorist threat facing the U.S. The presentation should be between eight to ten minutes in length and cite at least four scholarly references in support of the points in your presentation. Describe the threat, assess the likelihood of the threat being realized, describe resources that are in place to mitigate a threat of this type, and the particular resources that would be brought to bear in the event that should an attack were to be conducted
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
Title: The Threat of Cyberterrorism on the United States Homeland Security
Introduction
Good morning Secretary of Homeland Security, I am here to address a critical terrorist threat facing the United States – Cyberterrorism. This presentation aims to outline the nature of this threat, assess the likelihood of it being realized, detail current resources in place to mitigate such a threat, and discuss the specific resources that would be crucial in the event of a cyber-terrorist attack.
The Threat of Cyberterrorism
Cyberterrorism refers to the use of technology to conduct politically motivated attacks on information systems, networks, and critical infrastructure with the intention of causing harm. These attacks can range from disrupting financial systems, compromising national security information, to even causing physical damage to infrastructure such as power grids or transportation systems.
Likelihood of the Threat
The likelihood of cyberterrorism is significant and increasing due to the widespread use of digital technologies and the interconnected nature of critical infrastructure. As seen in recent years, state-sponsored groups, criminal organizations, and even lone actors have demonstrated the capability to launch sophisticated cyber attacks with devastating consequences.
Resources in Place to Mitigate the Threat
The Department of Homeland Security has established various resources to mitigate the threat of cyberterrorism. This includes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which works to enhance cybersecurity resilience and coordinate response efforts across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. Additionally, partnerships with private sector entities and international allies are crucial in sharing threat intelligence and best practices.
Specific Resources in the Event of an Attack
In the event of a cyber-terrorist attack, specific resources would need to be brought to bear. This includes rapid incident response teams that can analyze and contain threats, coordination with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute perpetrators, and leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and mitigate cyber threats in real-time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cyberterrorism poses a significant threat to the United States homeland security. It is imperative that we continue to invest in cybersecurity measures, enhance collaboration between public and private sectors, and remain vigilant in monitoring and responding to evolving cyber threats. By staying proactive and adaptive, we can effectively mitigate the risks posed by cyberterrorism and safeguard our nation’s critical infrastructure and information systems.
Thank you for your attention, Secretary. I am available for any further questions or discussions regarding this pressing issue.
References:
1. Smith, J. (2020). Cyberterrorism: Understanding, Assessment, and Response. Homeland Security Affairs.
2. Hoffman, B. (2019). The Evolution of Cyber Terrorism: An Overview. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism.
3. National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Cybersecurity Framework. U.S. Department of Commerce.
4. United States Government Accountability Office. (2021). Cybersecurity: Actions Needed to Strengthen U.S. Capabilities.
