Quote:
Originally Posted by MassTerp94
Of the following, who would be the most comfortable in today's world?
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Theodore Roosevelt
Susan B. Anthony
Harriet Tubman
Andrew Jackson
Thomas Edison
Nikola Tesla
I'd say Ben Franklin, he'd marvel at today's technologies and be right at home with today's sexual openness.
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They would mostly be appalled. This is not due to any particular deficiency on their parts other than simply being creatures of another time. For the same reason, historical figures from two or three hundred years before the times in which those of the above lived would also mostly be appalled if they were somehow able to experience the latter 1700s and the 1800s - and how the giants of today would similarly feel about whatever world is to be found a couple of centuries from now.
If pressed to answer your question, I'd probably go with Lincoln. At the same time, I have enough self-awareness to understand that I'm not unbiased and am likely just substituting my admiration for the man for a proper assessment of his likely reaction to the 21st century.
The fantasy that historical figures were timeless sages the likes of which are no longer found is a silly and trite bit of hero-worship.
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