In the United States, pressure groups attempt to influence the political process. Political parties in particular not only attempt to influence the political process, but they also seek to directly participate by capturing all or part of the political system in order to implement common goals. In an essay format answer, you are to identify and discuss the major of American political parties. Second, what are the two major parties in the United States, and what are the key positions of each party? And third, and what is meant by political realignment and how has it impacted the U.S. political system?
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
Title: The Dynamics of American Political Parties and the Impact of Political Realignment
Thesis Statement: American political parties, such as the Democratic and Republican parties, play a crucial role in influencing the political process and implementing their respective agendas, while political realignment has reshaped the U.S. political system over time.
American political parties are vital actors in the political landscape, seeking to shape public policy, mobilize voters, and influence government decisions. These parties are organized groups that aim to gain and maintain control of government through the election of their candidates. They often represent diverse interests and ideologies, providing a structured platform for citizens to engage with the political process and advocate for their beliefs.
In the United States, the two major political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Democratic Party traditionally advocates for social welfare programs, environmental protection, progressive taxation, and a more active government role in economic regulation. On the other hand, the Republican Party typically supports smaller government, free-market principles, lower taxes, strong national defense, and conservative social policies.
The key positions of the Democratic Party include advocating for affordable healthcare, supporting a higher minimum wage, addressing climate change through environmental regulations, promoting diversity and inclusion, and advocating for progressive taxation to reduce income inequality. The Republican Party, on the other hand, emphasizes deregulation, tax cuts, a strong national defense, conservative social values, and limited government intervention in healthcare and environmental policies.
Political realignment refers to a significant shift in the traditional voting patterns and support bases of political parties, often leading to a reconfiguration of the political system. This realignment can occur due to various factors such as changes in demographics, economic conditions, social issues, or significant events that reshape public opinion. Political realignment has impacted the U.S. political system by altering the composition and priorities of political parties, as well as influencing electoral outcomes and policy agendas.
Historically, major political realignments in the United States have included the shift from the dominance of the Democratic Party in the South to Republican dominance following the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. This realignment was driven by racial tensions, civil rights legislation, and cultural shifts, leading to a restructuring of party coalitions and voting blocs. Similarly, shifts in party support among different demographics, such as urban and rural voters or working-class and affluent voters, have also contributed to political realignments.
Overall, political realignment has reshaped the U.S. political system by redefining party platforms, altering electoral strategies, and shaping policy priorities. It underscores the dynamic nature of American politics and the continuous evolution of party dynamics in response to changing societal trends and values. As such, understanding political realignment is crucial for comprehending the enduring impact of historical shifts on contemporary political dynamics and policy-making processes.
