Write an essay about why after 18 months Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its operation failed.
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
The Failure of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: An Analysis
Introduction
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014 was a significant event that not only had profound consequences for the region but also attracted international attention. However, after 18 months, it became evident that Russia’s operation failed to achieve its intended objectives. This essay aims to explore the reasons behind the failure of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shed light on the key factors that contributed to its ultimate downfall.
Lack of Popular Support
One crucial factor that played a significant role in the failure of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the lack of popular support within Ukraine for Russian intervention. While there were pockets of pro-Russian sentiment in certain regions, the majority of Ukrainians did not welcome Russian interference. This lack of support hindered Russia’s ability to gain control over key areas and establish a stable presence in the country.
International Condemnation and Sanctions
Another significant setback for Russia was the strong international condemnation and subsequent imposition of economic sanctions. The invasion of Ukraine violated international norms and principles, leading to widespread condemnation from the international community. These condemnations, coupled with economic sanctions imposed by Western countries, severely impacted Russia’s economy and limited its ability to sustain a long-term military operation in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Resistance and Military Support
The resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people played a crucial role in countering Russia’s invasion. Despite being outmatched in terms of military capabilities, Ukrainian forces displayed remarkable resilience and fought back against Russian aggression. Moreover, Ukraine received significant military support from Western countries, which helped bolster its defenses and deter further Russian advances. This assistance contributed to the overall failure of Russia’s operation.
Guerilla Warfare and Asymmetric Tactics
Ukrainian resistance was further strengthened by their adoption of guerrilla warfare and asymmetric tactics. Instead of engaging in direct confrontations with the Russian military, Ukrainian forces utilized hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and unconventional warfare strategies. These tactics not only inflicted casualties on Russian forces but also made it difficult for them to maintain control over captured territories. The adaptable and resourceful nature of Ukrainian resistance played a crucial role in undermining Russia’s invasion.
Economic Burden and Internal Challenges
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proved to be an economic burden for the country. The cost of military operations, economic sanctions, and ongoing conflict took a toll on Russia’s economy, which was already facing challenges. Additionally, internal challenges such as corruption, mismanagement, and social unrest weakened Russia’s ability to sustain a successful military campaign in Ukraine.
Conclusion
The failure of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after 18 months can be attributed to various factors. The lack of popular support within Ukraine, international condemnation and sanctions, Ukrainian resistance and military support, guerrilla warfare tactics, economic burdens, and internal challenges all contributed to the downfall of Russia’s operation. The situation in Ukraine serves as a reminder that military might alone does not guarantee success, and factors such as popular support, resilience, international pressure, and asymmetric tactics can significantly impact the outcome of conflicts.
