Congress Conflates the State of Israel with Patriarch Israel/Jacob!
I am always amazed to see congress members conflating the State of Israel with biblical Israel/Jacob. Watch this video!
“Washington DC isn't the center of the universe, Jerusalem is”.
RepRickAllen asks @Columbia President:
Do you know Genesis 12:3 “If you bless Israel, I will bless you. If you curse Israel, I will curse you”. He then asks: “Do you want Columbia (University) to be CURSED by God, of the Bible?!”
To me, the State of Israel is an administrative, political, military and economic structure, among other things. The State of Israel is currently being tried for plausible genocide before the Interntional Court of Justice @CIJ_ICJ . So, it can't be biblical. I decided to ask ChatGPT!
Initially, ChatGPT Conflates the 'Nation of Israel' with Israel/Jacob
ME:
According to the Bible, who was meant by Israel in 'he who blesses Israel will be blessed'?
ChatGPT:
The phrase “he who blesses Israel will be blessed” is derived from the promises God made to Abraham in the Bible. In Genesis 12:3, God says to Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."1 This verse is often interpreted as God’s promise to bless those who bless Abraham’s descendants, the nation of Israel.
In the context of the Bible, “Israel” refers to the Jewish people or the descendants of Jacob, who was later named Israel. The nation of Israel, therefore, is seen as the collective descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The blessing implies that those who show favor and kindness to Israel, both the people and the nation, will themselves be blessed by God.
ME:
This is wrong - because the State of Israel is not a descendant of anyone - it is a State, a political structure, and conflating it with the Jewish people can be harmful and antisemitic.
ChatGPT Admits that the Conflation between Israel and the Jewish People is Wrong and Can be Potentially Harmful
ChatGPT:
Thank you for pointing that out. You’re correct that the modern State of Israel is a sovereign nation established in the 20th century and is not a descendant in the biological sense. The term “Israel” in the Bible originally referred to the individual Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, and by extension, his descendants, known as the Israelites.
The interpretation of biblical references to Israel can vary widely, and it’s important to distinguish between the ancient biblical context and the modern political entity. The conflation of the two can indeed lead to misunderstandings and potentially harmful rhetoric. It’s essential to approach such topics with sensitivity and awareness of the historical and contemporary implications.
Decolonization of AI
Conclusion: When ChatGPT gives an answer which is based on Hasbara, CORRECT it. This is how it can learn.
This is one of the ways to decolonize AI.
But apparently decolonization of ChatGPT is nowhere as difficult as getting the memo to the US Congress.