Voting age in U.S Should it be raise to 21 ? Discuss on lines of age and race.
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.
Title: The Case for Raising the Voting Age to 21 in the U.S.: An Analysis of Age and Race Factors
Introduction
The voting age in the United States has been 18 since the ratification of the 26th Amendment in 1971. However, there has been ongoing debate about whether the voting age should be raised to 21. This essay will argue that raising the voting age to 21 in the U.S. is a necessary step to ensure a more informed and responsible electorate, particularly when considering age and race factors.
Thesis Statement
Raising the voting age to 21 in the U.S. would lead to a more mature and politically conscious electorate, addressing concerns related to age and race disparities in voter turnout and political engagement.
Age Factor
One of the primary arguments for raising the voting age to 21 is based on the premise that individuals aged 18-21 may lack the maturity and life experience necessary to make informed decisions at the ballot box. Research has shown that cognitive development, impulse control, and decision-making abilities continue to develop into a person’s early twenties. By raising the voting age, we can potentially ensure that voters are more capable of critically evaluating political issues and candidates.
Race Factor
When examining the intersection of age and race, disparities in voter turnout and political engagement become apparent. Studies have shown that young voters, particularly those from marginalized racial or ethnic groups, often face barriers to political participation. By raising the voting age to 21, we could potentially provide additional time for individuals to become more politically engaged and overcome some of these obstacles.
Counterarguments
Opponents of raising the voting age may argue that individuals aged 18-21 are old enough to serve in the military, pay taxes, and make other important life decisions, so they should also have the right to vote. However, it is essential to recognize that voting is a civic responsibility that carries significant weight and should be approached with a level of maturity and understanding that may not be fully developed in younger individuals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, raising the voting age to 21 in the U.S. could help cultivate a more informed and responsible electorate, particularly when considering age and race factors. By allowing young adults additional time to develop their cognitive abilities and political awareness, we can promote a more equitable and effective democratic process. While this proposal may face opposition, the potential benefits it offers in terms of improving voter engagement and decision-making warrant serious consideration by policymakers.
