Over the past 10 years, there have been incidences and situations which have negatively affected large numbers of the population in the United States.
Research an incidence or situation in the United States. Clearly explain:
1. The incident that took place.
2. The issues involved.
3. The stress impact on children and family.
4. At least one scientific-based intervention that has been used to help children and families and the results.
Examples of Topics:
Military Family stress
Immigration issues
Bullying
Water supply contamination
Crude Oil pollution
Civil and voting rights
Environmental disasters
Poverty
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
The Impact of Water Supply Contamination: The Flint Water Crisis
1. The Incident That Took Place
The Flint water crisis is a significant public health disaster that began in April 2014 when the drinking water source for Flint, Michigan, was switched from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River. This change was made as a cost-saving measure, but the river water was not treated correctly, leading to lead leaching from aging pipes into the drinking water supply. Residents began to notice a decline in water quality, including discoloration, odor, and taste issues. Despite numerous complaints and evidence of contamination, city officials initially downplayed the severity of the situation. It wasn’t until 2015 that the crisis gained national attention, revealing widespread lead exposure among residents, particularly affecting children.
2. The Issues Involved
Several issues are deeply intertwined with the Flint water crisis:
– Public Health: The contamination of drinking water with lead poses severe health risks, particularly for children. Lead exposure can lead to developmental delays, cognitive impairments, and various health problems.
– Environmental Justice: Flint is a predominantly African American city with a history of socio-economic challenges. The crisis highlighted issues of environmental racism and the systemic neglect of marginalized communities.
– Government Accountability: The crisis raised questions about government oversight and accountability. Many officials failed to act on warnings from scientists and residents, leading to a loss of trust in public institutions.
– Infrastructure: Flint’s aging infrastructure was an underlying issue that contributed to the water crisis. The failure to invest in necessary upgrades and maintenance exacerbated the problem.
3. The Stress Impact on Children and Families
The Flint water crisis has had profound psychological and emotional impacts on children and families:
– Health Concerns: Families are understandably worried about the long-term health effects of lead exposure on their children. This fear can lead to increased anxiety and stress.
– Educational Impact: Children affected by lead exposure may experience cognitive impairments that affect their academic performance, leading to further stress for both children and parents.
– Social Isolation: The crisis has led to a breakdown in community trust and relationships. Families may feel isolated due to their fears about water quality, impacting social support networks.
– Economic Burden: Families have faced increased financial strain due to the need for bottled water, filters, and medical assessments, which can exacerbate existing economic stress.
4. Scientific-Based Intervention
One scientific-based intervention used to assist children and families affected by the Flint water crisis is the “Flint Water Study,” conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech. This study involved testing water samples from homes in Flint to assess lead levels and inform residents about their water safety.
Results of the Intervention:
– Lead Testing: The study provided residents with critical information about lead levels in their drinking water, empowering them to take action, such as using filters or consuming bottled water instead.
– Community Education: Researchers also engaged in extensive community outreach to educate families about the dangers of lead exposure and how they could mitigate risks.
– Health Monitoring: Following the crisis, various health departments initiated programs to monitor the health impacts on children, including lead screening and developmental assessments.
– Policy Changes: The findings from the Flint Water Study contributed to policy discussions regarding lead contamination regulations and infrastructure funding at both state and national levels.
Impact on Families:
While the intervention did not eliminate all challenges faced by families in Flint, it provided crucial information and support that helped residents navigate a highly stressful situation. Additionally, it sparked broader discussions about drinking water safety across the nation.
Conclusion
The Flint water crisis serves as a stark reminder of how environmental factors can profoundly impact public health and community well-being. The intersection of systemic neglect, environmental justice issues, and public health challenges created a perfect storm that continues to affect families today. By implementing scientific-based interventions like community education and health monitoring, some progress has been made towards healing the community; however, significant work remains to ensure that all families have access to safe drinking water and that such a crisis does not occur again in the future.
