Social change is an integral part of Walden Universitys vision and mission. As you read about some Walden community members efforts to be changemakers in their wider communities, you might begin to consider what your contributions as a student and, ultimately as an alumni will be. What roles will education and technology play? Sherman Alexies story, Superman and Me, describes how he learned to read and how that changed his personal circumstances leading to broader social change for his family, his community, and how he uses his hard-won knowledge to save lives.appealed to you.
Discuss how their story reflects Walden’s mission and vision.
What comparisons or contrasts can you make between Alexies experience and that of the person in your chosen Scholar of Change video?
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
Reflections on Social Change: Sherman Alexie and Walden University’s Mission
Sherman Alexie’s story, “Superman and Me,” powerfully illustrates the transformative impact education literacy on both personal and community levels. In this narrative, Alexie recounts his journey to learning how to read as a young Native American boy, emphasizing not only the change it brought to his own life but also its ripple effects on his family and community. This story resonates deeply with Walden University’s mission and vision, which emphasizes social change through education and empowerment.
Alignment with Walden’s Mission and Vision
1. Empowerment Through Education: Walden University is committed to fostering a learning environment that empowers individuals to effect positive change in their communities. Alexie’s experience mirrors this commitment; through his determination to learn how to read, he gained the tools necessary to advocate for himself and others. His journey underscores the belief that education equips individuals with knowledge and skills essential for driving social change.
2. Community Impact: Walden’s vision emphasizes the importance of contributing to the betterment of society. Alexie’s narrative illustrates how his literacy not only changed his life but also inspired him to uplift others in his community. By using his knowledge to promote literacy among Native American youth, he embodies the idea of giving back and fostering collective growth—principles central to Walden’s ethos.
3. Lifelong Learning: Both Alexie’s story and Walden’s mission highlight the significance of lifelong learning. Alexie’s commitment to reading extended beyond personal gain; he became a lifelong learner who used his education to explore complex issues within his community and advocate for change. This aligns with Walden’s dedication to cultivating a culture of continuous learning that encourages students to evolve and contribute meaningfully throughout their lives.
Comparisons with the Scholar of Change Video
In my chosen Scholars of Change video, “Technology as a Tool for Social Justice,” featuring Dr. Maria Gonzalez, the discussion centers on how technology can empower marginalized communities to advocate for their rights and drive social change. Several comparisons and contrasts can be drawn between Alexie’s experiences and Dr. Gonzalez’s insights:
1. Empowerment Through Different Mediums:
– Alexie’s Story: Alexie’s empowerment comes primarily through literacy and the written word. His ability to read opens doors for him, allowing him to navigate various systems and share stories from his community.
– Dr. Gonzalez’s Perspective: In contrast, Dr. Gonzalez emphasizes technology as a modern-day tool for empowerment. She discusses how digital platforms enable communities to organize, communicate, and advocate for social justice. Both narratives emphasize empowerment but through different forms—literacy versus technology.
2. Community Advocacy:
– Alexie’s Community Focus: Alexie focuses on improving literacy within his own community, directly addressing issues faced by Indigenous youth while drawing from his personal background.
– Dr. Gonzalez’s Broader Scope: Dr. Gonzalez addresses a broader range of social justice issues, including racial equality, environmental justice, and economic disparities, highlighting technology’s role in uniting various movements across different communities.
3. Legacy and Impact:
– Personal Journey: Alexie’s journey is deeply personal; his transformation leads him to become a role model in his community, indicating that individual change can inspire wider societal shifts.
– Technological Collective Action: Dr. Gonzalez emphasizes collective action facilitated by technology, suggesting that while individual contributions are vital, the use of tech platforms can amplify voices and mobilize larger groups for substantial societal impact.
Conclusion
Both Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me” and Dr. Maria Gonzalez’s insights in the Scholars of Change video reflect the essence of Walden University’s mission to promote social change through education. Alexie’s journey illustrates how literacy can transform lives and communities, while Dr. Gonzalez highlights the potential of technology to empower collective advocacy for social justice. As students and future alumni of Walden, we are encouraged to embrace both education and technology as vital tools in our own journeys toward becoming changemakers in our communities, ultimately contributing to a more equitable society.
