When examining critical infrastructure, which sector possess the biggest risk and what legal and ethical issues must the U.S. government consider when attempting to harden the target?
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
Assessing Risks in Critical Infrastructure: The Energy Sector
When examining critical infrastructure in the United States, the energy sector poses the biggest risk. This sector encompasses the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, oil, and gas, which are essential for virtually every aspect of modern life. Disruptions to the energy supply can have cascading effects on public safety, national security, and economic stability. Consequently, when the U.S. government considers hardening the energy sector against threats, it must navigate numerous legal and ethical issues.
Risks Associated with the Energy Sector
The energy sector faces a multitude of risks, including:
1. Cybersecurity Threats: The increasing integration of digital technologies in energy infrastructure has made it susceptible to cyberattacks. A successful breach could lead to significant disruptions in power supply or even catastrophic failures.
2. Physical Vulnerabilities: Energy facilities such as power plants and pipelines are often targets for physical attacks, whether from domestic extremism or foreign adversaries.
3. Natural Disasters: Vulnerability to natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires) can disrupt energy supplies and infrastructure.
4. Supply Chain Disruptions: The energy sector relies on complex supply chains that can be disrupted by geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, or pandemics.
Given these risks, hardening the energy sector is paramount for national resilience.
Legal Issues
When hardening the energy sector, the U.S. government must navigate a complex legal landscape:
1. Regulatory Compliance: Energy infrastructure is governed by a myriad of federal and state regulations. Any efforts to enhance security must comply with existing laws such as the Federal Power Act and various environmental regulations.
2. Liability Concerns: In the event of an attack or failure, questions of liability arise. Who is responsible if a facility fails to meet security standards? This could involve complex legal battles between government entities and private companies.
3. Property Rights: Hardening measures may involve changes to land use or physical alterations to private property. Governments must respect property rights and adhere to due process when implementing security enhancements.
Ethical Issues
In addition to legal considerations, ethical issues are paramount when hardening the energy sector:
1. Privacy Concerns: Increased surveillance and monitoring capabilities may be necessary for security but could infringe on individual privacy rights. Balancing security needs with citizens’ rights to privacy is a significant ethical challenge.
2. Equity in Resource Allocation: Hardening efforts must be equitable; vulnerable communities (often low-income or marginalized populations) should not be disproportionately affected by security measures. Ensuring that all communities receive adequate protection is an ethical obligation.
3. Transparency and Public Trust: The government must communicate its plans to enhance energy security transparently. Failure to do so could erode public trust and lead to resistance against necessary measures.
4. Responsible Use of Technology: As new technologies (e.g., AI and machine learning) are adopted for security purposes, ethical considerations regarding their use must be addressed to prevent biases and discrimination.
Conclusion
The energy sector represents the most significant risk within U.S. critical infrastructure due to its central role in societal functioning and its exposure to various threats. When hardening this sector, the U.S. government must carefully consider a range of legal and ethical issues, including regulatory compliance, liability concerns, privacy rights, equity in resource allocation, transparency, and responsible technology use. A balanced approach that prioritizes both security and civil liberties will be essential for effectively safeguarding the nation’s energy infrastructure while maintaining public trust and accountability.
