Reminder of the Social Problem: Homelessness Population

by | Dec 20, 2023 | sociology

 

Post a brief reminder of your social (Homelessness population) problem and address the following:
How does public opinion influence political approaches to the problem? Explain.
What policy advocacy approaches and skills can you use to address the problem with political leaders?
What are the social justice implications of your approach?
Provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.

 

 

 

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.


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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

Reminder of the Social Problem: Homelessness Population
Homelessness is a complex and pervasive social issue that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is characterized by the lack of stable and adequate housing, often resulting in individuals living on the streets or in temporary shelters. Homelessness is influenced by a combination of factors, including poverty, unemployment, mental health issues, and lack of affordable housing.
Influence of Public Opinion on Political Approaches
Public opinion plays a significant role in shaping political approaches to the issue of homelessness. Politicians are sensitive to public sentiment as it affects their electoral prospects and public image. When public opinion expresses concern and demands action on homelessness, politicians are more likely to prioritize the issue and allocate resources accordingly. Conversely, if public opinion is indifferent or lacks awareness about homelessness, politicians may be less motivated to address the problem effectively.
Public opinion also influences the framing of the issue. If homelessness is portrayed negatively in the media or by public perception, politicians may be inclined to adopt punitive approaches, such as criminalization or forced removals. On the other hand, if public opinion emphasizes compassion and support for homeless individuals, politicians are more likely to pursue policies focused on prevention, affordable housing, and supportive services.
Policy Advocacy Approaches and Skills
To address the problem of homelessness with political leaders, policy advocacy approaches and skills can be utilized. These include:
Coalition Building: Forming alliances with like-minded organizations, advocacy groups, and community stakeholders to amplify the collective voice and influence political leaders.
Research and Data Analysis: Providing evidence-based research and data to demonstrate the scope and impact of homelessness, as well as the effectiveness of specific policy interventions.
Engagement and Education: Engaging with political leaders through meetings, letters, and public forums to educate them about the complexities of homelessness and advocate for comprehensive solutions.
Media Advocacy: Utilizing media platforms to raise awareness about homelessness, challenge stereotypes, and advocate for policy changes.
Policy Proposals: Developing concrete policy proposals that address the root causes of homelessness, such as affordable housing initiatives, mental health services, job training programs, and supportive social services.
Social Justice Implications
The approach to addressing homelessness through policy advocacy has significant social justice implications. By advocating for policies that prioritize affordable housing, supportive services, and systemic change, this approach aims to address the structural injustices that contribute to homelessness. It promotes the idea that housing is a fundamental human right and challenges societal inequalities that perpetuate homelessness.
Additionally, policy advocacy seeks to address the underlying social determinants of homelessness, such as poverty and inadequate access to healthcare. This approach recognizes that homelessness is not solely an individual failing but a result of systemic issues that require collective action and policy reform.
References
American Psychological Association (2020). APA style 7th edition: The definitive guide. APA Style.
National Alliance to End Homelessness (2019). Solutions for ending homelessness: A policy toolkit for advocates. Retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Solutions-for-Ending-Homelessness.pdf

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