Write an essay for completion of this Section Assignment.
Instructions/Prompt
1. Utilize the provided “Conservatism” Reading Packet
2. Over the past forty years, the story of politics has been a turn to conservatism. Evaluate the extent to which the U.S. has turned “right/conservative” in the late 20th/early 21st century and argue if it has been beneficial to the nation.
Hint: Include the reasons for this “right” turn and its impact (cause and effect) on American life illustrating how it impacted politics, social movements, and the economy. Start with what the liberal consensus was, look at the causes during the 1950s-1970s (including Buckley), talk about Reagan Revolution, and end with how subsequent presidents including Clinton, W. Bush, and Obama).
3. Assignments need to have a minimum of six (6) direct quotations from the primary source reading documents, consisting of multiple viewpoints/speakers (i.e. not all should be from the same title/speaker/source)
4. All references must be cited using footnotes or a penalty will be assessed (see page 2)
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
Essay: The Turn to Conservatism in the Late 20th/Early 21st Century in the United States
Introduction
The past forty years have witnessed a notable shift towards conservatism in American politics, shaping the nation’s trajectory in significant ways. This essay will evaluate the extent to which the United States has turned “right/conservative” in the late 20th and early 21st centuries and discuss the implications of this shift on American life. By examining the reasons behind this conservative turn, including key figures like William F. Buckley and pivotal events like the Reagan Revolution, we will explore how conservatism has impacted politics, social movements, and the economy.
The Liberal Consensus and Its Erosion
During the mid-20th century, the United States operated under a liberal consensus characterized by government intervention in social welfare programs, civil rights advancements, and a Keynesian economic approach. However, this consensus began to erode in the late 1960s and early 1970s due to various factors, paving the way for a conservative resurgence.
Causes of the Right Turn
1. Cultural Shifts: The rise of social movements like the anti-war movement and civil rights activism challenged traditional values, prompting a conservative backlash.
2. Economic Concerns: Stagflation and economic downturns led to skepticism towards government intervention, favoring free-market principles advocated by conservative thinkers like Milton Friedman.
3. Intellectual Influence: Figures like William F. Buckley and the emergence of conservative media outlets provided a platform for conservative ideas to gain prominence.
Impact of Conservatism on American Life
The ascendancy of conservatism in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has had far-reaching effects on various aspects of American society.
Politics
The Reagan Revolution of the 1980s marked a significant shift towards conservative policies, emphasizing tax cuts, deregulation, and a strong stance against communism. Subsequent presidents like Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama navigated this conservative landscape, with varying degrees of adherence to conservative principles in their policies.
Social Movements
Conservatism has influenced social movements by shaping debates on issues such as abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and gun control. Conservative values emphasizing individual responsibility and limited government intervention have clashed with more liberal viewpoints on these contentious topics.
Economy
Conservative economic policies have centered on promoting free-market competition, reducing government spending, and cutting taxes. While proponents argue that such measures spur economic growth and job creation, critics point to income inequality, lack of social safety nets, and deregulation leading to financial crises.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the turn towards conservatism in the late 20th and early 21st centuries in the United States has been a complex phenomenon with profound implications for the nation. While conservative principles have influenced policies across various domains, including politics, social movements, and the economy, the impact of this shift remains a subject of debate. By examining the causes and effects of this conservative resurgence, we can better understand its implications for American life and assess whether it has been beneficial to the nation as a whole.
Through a nuanced analysis of the conservative turn in America, we can gain insights into the evolving dynamics of U.S. politics and society, shedding light on the ongoing debates surrounding governance, rights, and economic policies in the nation.
