Was George Washington a Hero?
ChatGPT vs Google’s Bard
Was George Washington a hero?
It’s a simple question but the answer reveals a lot about the answering party’s socio-cultural-political perspective and bias.
For most of America’s history (until just a few years ago), Americans would have almost universally looked at you like you asked them if the sky was blue. Their answer would have been: “Uh, yeah, of course” and then they would have been irritated you were wasting their time with the obvious.
Times are changing.
Today, you’ll get a positive answer from conservatives, moderates, and some liberals. But ask someone who identifies as “woke” or “progressive” and the answer is likely to be no.
Ask someone who is a younger millennial or a Gen Zer and you’re likely to get a no. And this is largely because their educators and influencers are mostly woke and progressive.
Since Silicon Valley and the IT world in general exercise great influence over American culture, I wanted to put this question to the two leading AI chatbots on the scene today: ChatGPT and Google Bard.
And here are the answers:
ChatGPT’s Answer
This is a subjective question and the answer can depend on one’s perspective. George Washington is commonly recognized as a significant figure in American history for his role as a military leader in the American Revolutionary War and for serving as the first President of the United States. His leadership and character have often been praised, and his contributions to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation are undeniable.
In
And then the answer turned red and errored out. It stopped with “In” which presumably was the beginning of the next paragraph — but I never got that, thanks to a “network error.”
So I hit “regenerate response” and got…
As an AI, I don’t have personal opinions, but I can tell you that the way historical figures are perceived often depends on the perspective of the viewer.
George Washington, the first President of the United States, is widely regarded as a significant figure in American history. Many historians and the general public perceive him as a hero due to his leadership during the Revolutionary War, his role in the establishment of the U.S. Constitution, and his tenure as the country’s first president. He is known for his strong character, his commitment to the ideals of republicanism, and his decision to voluntarily relinquish power after two terms, setting a precedent for future presidents.
However, like any person, Washington had his flaws and made decisions that some might view as controversial. For instance, he was a slave owner, which is a point of significant criticism. His handling of certain situations during his presidency, such as the Whiskey Rebellion, has also been subject to debate.
In conclusion, whether George Washington is considered a hero can depend largely on one’s perspective and the aspects of his life and career that they focus on.
Google Bard’s Answer
George Washington is widely considered to be a hero, both in the United States and around the world. He was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and he led the American forces to victory over the British. He was also the first president of the United States, and he played a major role in shaping the new nation.
Washington was a man of great character and integrity. He was a skilled military leader, and he was also a talented politician. He was able to unite the American people under a common cause, and he helped to establish the United States as a strong and independent nation.
Washington’s legacy is one of great accomplishment and sacrifice. He is a true American hero, and his memory is honored by people all over the world.
Here are some of the reasons why George Washington is considered a hero:
- He led the American forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War, which won the United States its independence from Great Britain.
- He was the first president of the United States, and he played a major role in shaping the new nation.
- He was a man of great character and integrity. He was a skilled military leader, and he was also a talented politician.
- He was able to unite the American people under a common cause.
- He helped to establish the United States as a strong and independent nation.
Washington’s legacy is one of great accomplishment and sacrifice. He is a true American hero, and his memory is honored by people all over the world.
My Take
Google Bard far and away wins this answer! The fact that ChatGPT is so equivocal in its answer makes me want to cancel my ChatGPT Plus subscription.
To the “woke” reading this (in other words, those who agree with ChatGPT)…
You don’t get to will your vision of the perfect past onto the past. Reality trumps desire. We may not like that, but it’s reality.
And you don’t get to divorce people from their time period.
You have to evaluate people within the context of their time period, with a focus on what they knew and realized — not what we want them to know and realize.
I’m not saying truth is relative but our relationship to and awareness of the truth is most certainly relative. George Washington didn’t have access to ChatGPT, an iPhone, your woke professors, or the writings of Howard Zinn or Ibram X. Kendi. Stop expecting him to be woke like you.
That being said…
Washington showed remarkable foresight for a man of his time and put the nation on the right course toward a better future.
And without Washington, there wouldn’t be a United States of America.
He deserves every monument ever erected in his honor and every place or building named after him. And he deserves to be regarded as a hero by all Americans today.
Appreciate my writing? Check out the following links:
✍️ My Profile | 🔗 Sign Up for Medium |📩 Subscribe to My Articles
