create a deliverable of your choice (written document, infographic, PowerPoint, video, etc.) which communicates the information below. Did you know?? Communicating information in a creative format is a very useful skill for today’s business professional. See the attached handout to view resources that can assist you in creating some of these types of deliverables.
Explain the basic components of a government.
Compare the type of government in the U.S. to other forms of government.
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
Infographic: Understanding Government Structures
Title: Government 101: Components and Comparisons
Section 1: Basic Components of a Government
1. Executive Branch
– Role: Enforces laws and administers public policy.
– Key Components: President, Vice President, Cabinet, and federal agencies.
2. Legislative Branch
– Role: Creates laws and allocates funding.
– Key Components: Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).
3. Judicial Branch
– Role: Interprets laws and administers justice.
– Key Components: Supreme Court and lower federal courts.
4. Constitution
– Role: The foundational document that outlines the structure, powers, and limitations of government.
– Key Components: Bill of Rights and Amendments.
5. Bureaucracy
– Role: Implements government policies through various agencies.
– Key Components: Various departments (e.g., Health, Education, Defense).
Section 2: Comparing U.S. Government to Other Forms of Government
Type of Government Description U.S. Government
Democracy Power lies with the people, who elect representatives. Republic with democratic principles.
Monarchy A single ruler (king/queen) holds power, often hereditary. Constitutional monarchy (not applicable).
Oligarchy A small group holds power, often for corrupt or selfish purposes. Not applicable; power is widely distributed.
Authoritarianism Centralized power with little political freedom; citizens have limited rights. Contrasts sharply with democratic values.
Totalitarianism An extreme form of authoritarianism where the government seeks to control all aspects of life. U.S. protects individual freedoms and rights.
Communism A classless system where the state owns all means of production and property is collectively owned. Opposes U.S. capitalist principles.
Section 3: Key Takeaways
– The U.S. government is a federal republic characterized by democratic principles.
– It separates powers into three distinct branches to ensure checks and balances.
– Unlike other forms of government, the U.S. prioritizes individual rights and freedoms.
Visual Elements
– Use icons for each branch of government (e.g., gavel for judicial, Capitol building for legislative).
– Create a flowchart showing the interaction between branches.
– Use a world map highlighting countries with different types of government.
Conclusion
Understanding the basic components of government and comparing different forms enhances our perspective on global politics. The U.S. government emphasizes democracy, individual rights, and a system of checks and balances, distinguishing it from authoritarian regimes and other government structures worldwide.
Call to Action
– Learn more about your local government!
– Participate in civic activities to strengthen democracy!
This infographic can be designed using tools like Canva, Piktochart, or Adobe Illustrator to visually represent the information effectively.
