Write a Term paper on The Ferguson effect on policing
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 Ferguson Effect on Policing: Understanding its Impact and Implications
Introduction
The “Ferguson Effect” is a term that emerged following the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The incident sparked widespread protests and ignited a national conversation about police brutality, racial bias, and the use of excessive force in law enforcement. The aftermath of the shooting led to a phenomenon known as the “Ferguson Effect,” which refers to the hypothesis that increased scrutiny and criticism of law enforcement has led to a decrease in proactive policing and an increase in violent crime rates. This term has sparked intense debate and research into its validity and impact on policing practices.
Thesis Statement
The Ferguson Effect has had a significant impact on policing, leading to changes in officer behavior, public perception, and crime rates. While its existence and effects are subject to debate, it is crucial to understand the complexities of this phenomenon in order to address the challenges and implications it presents for law enforcement and society as a whole.
Understanding the Ferguson Effect
The Ferguson Effect posits that law enforcement officers, in response to heightened scrutiny and criticism, have become more hesitant to engage in proactive policing strategies such as stop-and-frisk, community patrols, and aggressive enforcement of low-level offenses. This shift in behavior is believed to be driven by concerns about potential backlash, civil unrest, legal repercussions, and damage to their professional reputation. Consequently, some argue that this pullback has emboldened criminals, leading to an increase in violent crime rates in certain communities.
Impact on Policing Practices
The notion of the Ferguson Effect has triggered a reevaluation of policing practices and policies across the United States. Police departments have grappled with balancing the need for proactive crime prevention with concerns about community trust, racial bias, and excessive use of force. Some departments have implemented community policing initiatives, de-escalation training, and revised use-of-force policies to rebuild trust and improve interactions with the public. However, others argue that the pullback from proactive policing has left communities vulnerable to crime and violence.
Implications for Public Safety
The Ferguson Effect has raised critical questions about its impact on public safety. While some studies have suggested a correlation between decreased proactive policing and rising crime rates in certain cities, others have contested this claim, citing complex socioeconomic factors, community dynamics, and historical patterns of crime. It is essential to consider the multifaceted nature of crime trends and their relationship to policing strategies when assessing the implications of the Ferguson Effect on public safety.
Addressing the Challenges
In response to the challenges posed by the Ferguson Effect, law enforcement agencies must strive for a balanced approach that prioritizes both proactive crime prevention and respectful, equitable policing practices. This necessitates ongoing dialogue between police departments and the communities they serve, as well as a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Additionally, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders must collaborate to develop evidence-based strategies that promote public safety while upholding civil rights and fostering trust in law enforcement.
Conclusion
The Ferguson Effect has undeniably influenced policing practices and public discourse surrounding law enforcement in the United States. While its precise impact remains a topic of debate, it has catalyzed important conversations about police-community relations, racial justice, and crime prevention. By comprehensively examining the nuances of the Ferguson Effect and its implications, we can work towards shaping a future where effective policing coexists with community trust and safety for all.
