World

Columbus Day: Why Americans Really Started Celebrating the Holiday

Published

1 month ago

2024-10-14

The Christopher Columbus statue gifted to Providence in 1893 - File Image

Columbus Day is a day of both celebration and contention for numerous American towns. The ongoing discussions on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day frequently place them in opposition to one another.

The American origins of Columbus Day, a federal holiday instituted in 1937, indicate that the contemporary observance is less associated with Christopher Columbus and his expeditions to the Caribbean and more related to the persecution of Catholic Americans, particularly Italian immigrants who faced extensive discrimination and violence in the late 19th century.

Christopher Columbus never landed on the continental United States, and his expedition to the Western Hemisphere took place 284 years before to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

What is the rationale behind the inclusion of Christopher Columbus’ voyage in the narrative of American history by the United States government? The solution is rooted in the nation’s inception.

The Beginnings of Columbus Day

During the 15th and 16th centuries, continents were frequently represented as allegorical figures in cartography and European art. Occasionally, these depictions manifested as goddess-like women.

Following the Europeans’ discovery of other land masses, North America was designated the name “Columbia” by the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, both Europeans and Americans employed the picture of Columbia to symbolize the newly independent United States, which had recently achieved freedom from British rule.

Following the passage of the Constitution in 1787 and the demise of George Washington in 1799, early Americans commenced the documentation of their nascent nation’s history.

Desiring to dissociate from England, these Americans regarded Columbus as possessing numerous admirable traits: he originated from humble beginnings, he did not navigate under the English crown (but rather for Portugal and Spain), and his expertise and leadership acumen contributed to his achievements.

This abridged rendition of Columbus’s narrative catered to the requirements of America’s 18th-century political leaders, who were predominantly Protestant.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Columbia, initially a sign of our nation, ultimately became synonymous with the historical hero Columbus, so establishing a new national emblem comparable to the bald eagle and the United States flag. Thus, Columbus emerged as a foundational reference for the nascent nation’s documented history.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day originated from the aspiration of Native American communities to honor the history and culture of the indigenous populations of the Americas.

Columbus Day is not observed in states with minimal Italian American presence and bigger native populations, like Colorado, Alaska, South Dakota, and Vermont.

Hawai’i observes “Discoverer’s Day” by commemorating their Polynesian forefathers, rather than European explorers, who also traversed the seas.

Although Columbus Day is a federal holiday, individual states and municipalities have the authority to determine their own celebratory practices. The City of Pittsburgh observes both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

In contrast to the 18th and 19th centuries, his standing as an American hero has undoubtedly evolved. Numerous Italian Americans today recognize that a holiday commemorating him does not honor the good contributions of Italian immigrants or the rich culture of Americans of Italian descent.

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Geoff Thomas

Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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World

A Court Filing Reveals Elon Musk Flatly Rejected OpenAI’s ICO in 2018.

Published

5 hours ago

2024-11-15

Salman Ahmad

(VOR News) – Elon Musk, the billionaire and CEO of Tesla, claims in a subsequent court filing that was submitted on November 14 that he was successful in stopping OpenAI from doing an initial coin offering (ICO) in 2018.

According to the filing requirements, this information was disclosed.

Musk and his legal team have claimed that two of OpenAI’s founders, Greg Brockman and Sam Altman, tried unsuccessfully to create a token in early 2018 to help the company grow. To the best of our knowledge, this was the founders’ intention.

Elon Musk accurately described the scenario.

Elon Musk made the remark during the pertinent time period, according to the lawsuit’s accusations.

This, in his opinion, would lead to a significant decline in trust in OpenAI and everyone involved in the initial coin offering (ICO). These statements are extracted from his initial declaration.

A unique project backed by Altman, Worldcoin launched a token twenty-three years ago with the goal of creating digital identification for verified individuals.

Furthermore, the company in charge of token distribution was Worldcoin. Through the use of the token, Worldcoin was able to authenticate individual identities.

When OpenAI was first founded, it was a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe artificial general intelligence (AGI).

In this context, the acronym AGI stands for artificial global intelligence. “Musk has continuously voiced concern about the grave threat that these sophisticated systems pose to humanity,” his attorney wrote in the complaint. These sophisticated technologies represent a serious threat to humankind.

“Musk remains apprehensive regarding this threat.” “Musk regards these threats with the utmost seriousness.” “Elon Musk has harbored these concerns for an extended period.”

This led to Musk joining OpenAI’s board of directors and continuing to serve as co-chair of the board. Furthermore, he was appointed to that board of directors post.

Elon Musk contributed $44 million to the enterprise.

OpenAI declared in a March 5th news release that it was imperative that the company adopt a profit-making structure in order to obtain the necessary funding to achieve its objectives. In order to enable OpenAI to fulfill its objectives, this transition was necessary.

According to both the OpenAI statement and the amended filing, Elon Musk advocated for the combination of OpenAI and Tesla to help the artificial intelligence startup with its financial issues.

The aforementioned measures were implemented to mitigate the challenges that the organization was facing at that specific moment. Musk submitted his resignation as an OpenAI employee in February 2018.

He founded his own artificial intelligence company, which he named XAI, in the ensuing years. His efforts directly led to the achievement he achieved.

We are deeply disappointed that our friendship with someone we have always held in the highest respect has deteriorated.

As we started to make significant strides toward OpenAI’s goal on our own, this person, who had previously motivated us to achieve greater heights, abruptly predicted that we would fail, established a rival company, and filed a lawsuit against us, according to the group’s press release.

In August of this year, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEOs, Altman and Brockman, claiming that they had violated federal RICO statutes, engaged in unfair competition, and committed fraud. OpenAI is the target of legal action taken by Elon Musk.

According to Elon Musk, they have engaged in additional illegal activity. Microsoft was named as one of the defendants in the dispute in the updated complaint, which was submitted on November 14.

It’s being presented as a case at the moment. Microsoft and OpenAI started working together in 2019, and Microsoft committed $1 billion in the partnership.

In July 2023, OpenAI’s native cryptocurrency, Worldcoin (WLD), was made available to the general public. Not too long ago, an article published by The Block disclosed this knowledge. When the market closed on November 15 at 11:36 p.m. Eastern Time (16:36 UTC), the price of a share of WLD was $2.21.

SOURCE: TB

World

Trump Appoints Robert F. Kennedy Jr to Head HHS

Published

23 hours ago

2024-11-15

Geoff Thomas

Trump Appoints Robert F. Kennedy Jr to Head HHS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

President-elect Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr) to run the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sending Democrats and Big Pharma allies into a tailspin.

“I am delighted to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and medicine firms, which have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation regarding public health,” Trump stated in his announcement.

“The safety and health of all Americans is the most important role of any administration, and HHS will play an important role in ensuring that everyone is safe from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to this country’s overwhelming health crisis.

Mr. Kennedy will restore these agencies to gold-standard scientific Research and Transparency traditions, stopping the Chronic Disease Epidemic and making America Great and Healthy Again!” Trump added.

Reactions to RFK Jr HHS Appointment

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medicare, Medicaid, and the National Institutes of Health.

Kennedy is a former environmental justice lawyer who has recently started an anti-vaccine nonprofit. He ran for president as an independent candidate in 2024 but dropped out to join Trump’s closest circle.

House Republicans have reacted to Donald Trump’s nomination of former presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary.

Chip Roy, a Texas congressman, calls it “great news”. He tells me, “We need disruption throughout the federal government.” He’ll be fantastic at HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services] to do that.”

Roy adds that he expects Kennedy’s candidacy will clear the Senate.

“There’s been a few Kennedy’s in the Senate in the past so maybe there’ll be some legacy there that they will want to move him through,” he speculates.

South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman concurs with Roy on Kennedy’s confirmation in the Senate: “I believe he was an excellent choice by the president, as have all of them. Kennedy is interested in, and passionate about, the medical industry. He will do a terrific job with it.”

According to Public Citizen, a progressive nonprofit group focused on consumer protection, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “is a clear and present danger to the nation’s health.”

He should not be allowed to enter the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), let alone be appointed director of the nation’s public health agency.”

“Donald Trump’s mishandling of public health policies during the Covid outbreak resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. “By appointing Kennedy as secretary of HHS, Trump is courting another policy-driven public health disaster,” the organization continued.

Apu Akkad, an infectious disease physician at the University of Southern California, described the statement as a “scary day for public health”.

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical stocks such as Pfizer and Moderna plummeted following news of Kennedy’s nomination for HHS Secretary, as investors considered his potential impact on vaccine sales.

Novavax and BioNTech finished down more than 7%, with almost all losses occurring when word of the selection broke—Novavax shares fell to $7.22, and BioNTech shares fell to $103.56.

Moderna’s stock closed 5.6% at $39.77, reaching its lowest point of the year.

Sanofi’s stock fell 3.4% to $47.82, continuing a weeks-long share price decline that began after the company’s latest earnings report last month.

Pfizer lost less than its competitors on Thursday, closing down 2.6% at $26.02, despite having its sharpest drop of the day immediately following the RFK Jr. announcement.

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World

UK Police Visit Journalist Allison Pearson Over Old Tweet

Published

23 hours ago

2024-11-14

Geoff Thomas

On Remembrance Sunday, at 9:40 a.m., two police officers went to Allison Pearson's home.

Police in Essex, England, have been criticized for sending two cops to the home of Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson over an X tweet that was more than a year old.

On Remembrance Sunday, at 9:40 a.m., two police officers went to Allison Pearson’s home to inform her that she was under investigation and asked for a voluntary interview.

She was informed, however, that officers were not permitted to discuss the exact focus of an investigation. They stated that the claimed offense was being investigated as a criminal matter under Section 17 of the Public Order Act of 1986.

Despite Pearson’s claim that she was told it was an alleged non-crime hate incident, the police have emphasized that it is not being examined as such. Since the terrible occurrence, the Essex Police have been under intense global scrutiny for their actions.

Elon Musk and key British lawmakers are leading a rising protest against the police for probing a Telegraph journalist’s social media remark.

Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter/X, spearheaded the reaction, calling it “crazy”.

Crazy https://t.co/sgfqogullh

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2024

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has also stated that this is Orwellian. I’m disgusted that Allison Pearson and others like her have to live in fear for months without knowing what has been said against them.

The former prime minister, Boris Johnson, tweeted that it was “appalling.”

This is appalling. How can Starmer’s Britain lecture other countries about free speech when an innocent journalist gets a knock on the door – for a tweet? Our police have their hands full of burglaries and violent crime. They are being forced to behave like a woke Securitate -… https://t.co/HaXc1tsokW

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 13, 2024

This is appalling. How can Starmer’s Britain lecture other countries about free speech when an innocent journalist gets a knock on the door – for a tweet? Our police have their hands full of burglaries and violent crime.

They are being forced to behave like a woke Securitate – and it has to stop!

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss described the incident as “yet another affront to free speech,” adding, “We must speak out and fight back against this appalling bullying of Allison Pearson.”

Meanwhile, the Home Office announced that it was evaluating how police record non-crime hate incidents to ensure that they are “proportionate” and preserve free speech, following the controversy surrounding an investigation into a Telegraph journalist.

Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman stated that it is critical that police record non-crime hate events where “proportionate and necessary” to help prevent severe crimes from occurring in the future.

He did, however, disclose that the Home Office was examining current instructions for police officers on recording non-crime hate events to maintain people’s right to free speech while not diverting officers’ attention away from other crimes.