Research-based on a topic involving current U.S. national security interests and operations of the U.S.

by | Mar 28, 2025 | Essays

Research-based on a topic involving current U.S. national security interests and operations of the U.S. sea services (U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard). Perform some research on and that consists 200-300 words on the explanation of your proposed topic and why it is an important issue for military leaders.

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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.

The Evolving Role of the U.S. Coast Guard in Great Power Competition within the Indo-Pacific.

Explanation: The rise of China as a near-peer competitor and its assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific have significantly elevated the strategic importance of this region for U.S. national security. While the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are central to projecting power and maintaining military balance, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) possesses unique capabilities and authorities that are increasingly vital in this context.

The USCG, as a military service, law enforcement agency, and regulatory body, offers a “soft power” approach that can complement traditional military operations. Its missions in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, fisheries protection, and capacity building with partner nations are crucial for maintaining regional stability, countering illegal activities, and building alliances. In the “gray zone” – the space between peace and war – the Coast Guard’s law enforcement

The Evolving Role of the U.S. Coast Guard in Great Power Competition within the Indo-Pacific.

Explanation: The rise of China as a near-peer competitor and its assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific have significantly elevated the strategic importance of this region for U.S. national security. While the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are central to projecting power and maintaining military balance, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) possesses unique capabilities and authorities that are increasingly vital in this context.

The USCG, as a military service, law enforcement agency, and regulatory body, offers a “soft power” approach that can complement traditional military operations. Its missions in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, fisheries protection, and capacity building with partner nations are crucial for maintaining regional stability, countering illegal activities, and building alliances. In the “gray zone” – the space between peace and war – the Coast Guard’s law enforcement

authorities allow it to address challenges posed by state-sponsored maritime militias and coercive economic activities in ways that may not be appropriate for traditional naval forces. Furthermore, its expertise in maritime governance and safety standards makes it a valuable partner for nations seeking to strengthen their own maritime security capabilities, thus enhancing U.S. influence and interoperability.

Importance for Military Leaders: Understanding the evolving role of the USCG in the Indo-Pacific is paramount for military leaders for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a more comprehensive understanding of the tools available to advance U.S. national security interests in the region beyond traditional naval power projection. Secondly, it highlights opportunities for enhanced inter-service cooperation and the development of integrated operational concepts that leverage the unique strengths of each sea service. Thirdly, recognizing the USCG’s capacity-building role is crucial for developing effective security cooperation strategies with regional partners, fostering a collective approach to countering shared threats. Finally, as the Indo-Pacific becomes a primary theater of strategic competition, military leaders must appreciate how the USCG’s presence and activities contribute to deterrence, maritime domain awareness, and the maintenance of a stable and rules-based international order.

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