Words from the SoapBox

Black History Month provides a glimpse on the comprehensive contributions that Black role models have made on this country and the world. It is often criticized because it encompasses the shortest month of the year and it is often viewed as shortchanging an ethnic group whose diverse members made history, and continue to do so, daily.

What one can appreciate about Black History Month is that it does provide a catalyst to learn and understand about people of color and many of their accomplishments made under extreme circumstances.

Their legacies inspired generations both here and abroad. They became role models and unsung heroes who forged paths and did not find it robbery to reach back and bring others along. The ripple effects of those gestures were often far reaching.

Harold E. Adams was one of many Black role models whom we should honor and he left behind a significant legacy of service and support.

Commissioner Adams, as he was known to so many because he served for 20 years as the Commissioner of the Nassau County (N.Y.) Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction (NCDDAA), was a man of commitment and compassion.

A graduate of Hampton University and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he served in the Army as a captain during the Korean War, returned home and obtained two graduate degrees – a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and a Masters in Criminology from New York University.

Prior to taking on the role of commissioner, he had worked for the New York State Division of Parole and then he has established and directed a mental health clinic in Brooklyn, N.Y.

During his tenure with NCDDAA, Adams expanded program services to incorporate the whole family dynamic, something unheard of at the time and widely practiced today.

He included residential and outpatient services along with vocational training for clients in addition to training and development resources for counselors. A family and children’s program was also established due to his vision.

For his staff, working for the commissioner resembled a family unit that provided the security of a strong leader, but the knowledge that he cared for the staff, the clients and the community.

Even after he retired, he still maintained a direct connection to improving lives of families and to giving children a constructive resource to stay focused on productive futures.

He was the founding president of the Francis J. Logan Jr. Foundation Inc, a non-profit that was established to fund Camp Discovery, a summer camp experience for children and their families whose lives have been impacted by parental alcohol and chemical abuse, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. Giving children and their families who were often shunned by society or whose financial status often precluded them being able to have this experience further illustrated his compassion.

This jazz enthusiast and sports buff enjoyed his life and was well loved and respected. His legacy of service and his commitment to making a difference was celebrated recently at the 20th anniversary Friendship Games, an annual track meet that takes place on Long Island, N.Y. The event brings talented athletes from all over the island to compete on Martin Luther King Day to emphasize the legacy of teamwork and unity that for proactive development that King emphasized. Adams supported the development of a lot of young people. Even those who had fallen through the cracks of society or those who did not have the best in Black role models, he became that role model and their bridge to a successful life.

In an era where there is the ongoing clamor for Black role models, Adams set the standard in a style that will sorely be missed, but greatly appreciated by those who benefited from the experience.

Author Bio: Meta J. Mereday is a writer for ; Regal Black Mens Magazine The publication focuses on ; African American Community News Politics Sports Health The magazine features a ; Local Online Classifieds & Job Classified Black Business Directory Visit to read about ; Black role models

There is always a high possibility that people with bad intentions might target the elderly since they are already weak and won’t be able to fight back with their full strength. Senior citizens are known to be easy victims of crime in other countries. In a community, safety is the first priority. However, discrepancies will never be avoided especially if the population of a particular town is quiet large. There are some things that a senior citizen could do in order to maintain a happy living which is far from any form of abuse and harm.

As a person gets older, physical deterioration follows. But there is nothing to fear when it comes to safety because according to statistics, elderly has a lower record of assault and robbery compared to other age groups. Being a senior citizen is a wonderful experience most especially if you are already availing discounts from the government. Though they are already old, some of them who learned martial arts in their earlier life are still capable of maintaining their stamina and strength whenever the situation calls for it. It is how they manage their body and mind to keep being alert and prepared at all times. We might think that they are weak but they are not. So never underestimate the senior citizens. As you get old, your comprehension, critical thinking and analysis are getting sharper since you’ve already experienced a lot in life. Just by watching movies or television programs which contain several tactics for self-defense could already be very useful.

Self defense is not only about martial arts. It also tackles about the proper behavior and perception in life. Once you learn how to avoid troubles, that is the right time that you’re ready to learn martial arts because this is not all about fighting. It is all about defending yourself whenever there are assailants who want to harm you for no cause. Exercise is also an integral part of it. You will suffer from deep muscle pain and even bone fracture if you won’t maintain a god body condition at your old age. Keep in mind that you must only perform activities that could be tolerated by your body. Never exceed to your limit because it might cause self damage to you.

Once you’re outside your home, be very certain that your purse is hidden. This will help you to avoid purse snatching. Never park your car to parking lots with no light at all. Dark places are the best spot for crimes and robbery. As soon as you park, secure the keys immediately. Never leave it anywhere especially in a place that is not safe. If you will notice somebody who is suspicious in appearance, better go to the nearest place with security guards or you can bring a legal weapon with you such as the mice spray or the taser. These devices would truly save you in times of unexpected and sudden attacks. Just always be careful and be prepared when you go outside your home.

Author Bio: Cori N. Baker enjoys writing for Beststungun.com which sells spy gear and cell phone stun gun as well as a host of additional products.

If you want to hold a vow renewal ceremony as an anniversary celebration, you should choose what type of ceremony you want, pick a date, pick a venue for the event, determine who will be the officiant of the celebration, and hand out your invitations.

You can think of renewing your vows of marriage if you and your partner are about to celebrate your 50th year of being married. One of the most special 50th anniversary gifts you can exchange with your spouse on your 50th wedding anniversary is renewal of your vows, and this can also be a means of remembering your years together. Consider the following tips if you are planning to renew your wedding vows:

Decide the type of ceremony you prefer

Deciding what type of ceremony you want should be one of your major considerations just like when preparing for a wedding. You must decide if you want a simple celebration or an elaborate affair during this step. A grand celebration obviously is more expensive but you will be able to invite more people. However, uncomplicated vow-renewal ceremonies make for a more intimate setting where you can concentrate on the romantic and sentimental aspects of the celebration. You should base this decision on your personal preferences as well as your budget.

Pick a date

Consult with your spouse on when to have the affair once you have decided what you want it to be like. You can choose to have it on the day of your anniversary or on any other time that is convenient for you. If you plan to have an elaborate ceremony, make sure there is enough time for all the preparations that need to be made.

Choose a venue

There are couples who want to celebrate their vow renewal ceremony on the same place they held their wedding while others prefer having it at a new location. Be sure to factor in your budget when picking a venue and then coordinate with the site ahead of time so it can be reserved.

Determine who will be the officiant of the celebration

Anyone can officiate a vow renewal ceremony, since this event is usually more symbolic than legal in nature. You can request a clergy member or judge who can take charge of the affair. On the other hand, if you wish for a more casual and personal setting, you can select a close friend or an adult child to officiate. Make sure you let the person you have chosen know the details of the occasion in advance so you can coordinate and prepare for it together.

Give out invitations

Once you have all the details finalized, you can send out the invitations to your guests. If the location of the event will be out of town, the invitations should be sent out about a month in advance to give your guests enough time to prepare.

Couples can choose from a wide variety of ways to commemorate their anniversary. The important thing is to find the one that will let you make the occasion most unforgettable.

Author Bio: To find more suggestions on 50th anniversary gifts, be sure to visit http://www.lifeonrecord.com/anniversary.htm

The existing job candidate glut, primarily created by the recession, will soon be flooded with nearly one million vets with the pull back of troops by the U.S. military around the globe.

For younger troops, aged 18-24 years old, the unemployment rate is currently 13.1 percent for males and 21.6 percent for females — nearly double and triple the unemployment numbers respectively for non-veterans. Adding to the list of challenges felt by young vets is their apparent lack of job experience, career direction, and low confidence in their ability to thrive in the civilian workforce.

Though many companies may be theoretically committed to hiring vets, they are not sure how to find them, how their skills are transferable to available opportunities, or how to integrate and support them once hired. For jobs requiring lower skill levels such as truck drivers, assembly workers, and welders, the military is a natural source from which to pull due to key skills required to be a successful infantry soldier: discipline, reliability, ability to follow directions and complete tasks, and loyalty, to name a few.

For officers, returning to the employment marketplace is equally daunting. They, too, are not sure how they fit in, and tend to think they need to take a step down to managerial jobs upon their return. However, the truth of the matter is that these are not managers; these are leaders. They have the unique ability to strategize and to mentor and motivate others in the most challenging and uncertain circumstances. Again, this is not management; this is leadership.

I recently had the honor of speaking with 100 colonels and generals at Camp Pendleton in Carlsbad, California, about their impending return to the civilian workforce. This is what Steve Fisher, retired Colonel and President Marine Executive Association-West had to say about my talk:

“I can’t begin to express how much everyone appreciated the time you most graciously spent with our Marines and military folks last night. It was undoubtedly one of the most informative and motivational talks we have had in all the many years I have been affiliated with the Marine Executive Association-West. Your comments were on the mark, and I received many laudatory remarks from our members. They all were thrilled to have you kick start 2012 for us. Many of these men and women have been fearless and stoic when shot or blown up by IEDs, but they still tell me transitioning is one of the scariest things they have ever done. Thanks for unwrapping the shroud of mystery and confusion for them.”

Hiring organizations must realize the transferable nature of these skills to the business world and the incredible value these vets can bring to their leadership teams.

Kim Shepherd is the CEO of Decision Toolbox, a national recruitment process outsourcing firm. She is the author of the newly released book, The Bite Me School of Management: Taking a Bite of Conventional Business Thinking. The book takes a large bite of out typical corporate culture.

It may seem like there are not too many people out there who appreciate the simple things in life, but the truth is, this group of people is growing. As things become more complicated and advanced, people are left feeling as if the days gone by are treasured times. There are plenty of advantages to the new technological advances the world sees every day, but it can leave you feeling like the world is a cold and unwelcoming place. Things move fast and when people are wrapped up in technology, they may feel removed from society and from their loved ones. It may make life easier, but if over time you start to feel disconnected and people lose touch with even those living under the same roof. If you feel that all of the technology available to you is proving counterproductive, you may be right. There may be advantages and you may have a better quality of life if you simplify things and turn back to an easier way of living. For starters, there is no need to worry about electronics breaking. If you have no MP3 player or cordless phone, you will never need iPod Touch repair or iPhone repairs. Granted, these can be easy, affordable pictures, but if you never have to worry about something breaking, there will be a lot less stress in your life.

This reduced level of stress carries over into other parts of your life. If you are feeling better about your new, simplified life, it will make you more relaxed in everything you do. The converse is true. If you are feeling stressed about the overwhelming amount of information you have access to and the number of things that can go wrong in your life, that tension will be apparent no matter what you are doing. Simplifying things means you will gain a sense of calm and focus. You will be present in everything you do.

Overall, these changes will make you healthier. Some believe that exposure to too much electronic equipment is dangerous. This is a controversial opinion, but what everyone is willing to accept is the fact that if you are happier and calmer, you will be healthier overall. Stress builds up and over time, has an effect on the health of your body. Plus, if you simplify things, you will have time to focus on healthy activities like cooking healthy meals, exercising and spending time with your loved ones.

Spending more time with those you care about is one of the major advantages to making things simpler. In addition to cutting out electronic equipment, you can also simplify things by saying no to activities and requests from others. This gives you more time to focus on things that are truly important. The more time you have for your family and for yourself, the better quality of life you will have.

Finally, simplifying things grounds you. You will get a sense of peace and it will also give you a chance to learn about yourself. A simple life allows you to feel settled and focus on the important things in life.

No need to worry about electronic repairs, less stress, overall healthier, more time for relationships, helps you remember the value of life and the important things

Author Bio: Stewart Wrighter thinks that the iPod touch repair services on the internet are a good thing. His son ordered iPhone repairs services online.

I stepped aboard the chartered bus and sat in a comfortable reclining cloth seat with a pull-down footrest. It looked no different than thousands of other Greyhound buses in the 1960′s. A gleaming silver box with sleek greyhounds painted on both sides that soon would be driven by a driver who was greeting entering passengers with a smile. What I didn’t realize was in twenty-five minutes, this bus would begin a journey that would change the lives of its passengers and the soul of the country.

It was March, 1965 and there was a nationwide call for college students to come to Montgomery, Alabama for the arrival of the civil rights workers marching from Selma. Black citizens were determined to register to vote and white state officials were determined that they would not. We boarded the bus in late afternoon with a variety of emotions and motivations. Most felt a moral obligation to help right a terrible injustice. Others were delighted to be missing classes. And a few were on the hunt for new partners.

The mood on the bus was relaxed as we left the University of Pittsburgh campus. Father Carroll and Rabbi Rubenstein discussed philosophy and moral imperatives with anyone who would listen. Some people formed pairs and started quiet conversations punctuated with affectionate words. Only a few thought about what might happen when we crossed over that imaginary line separating the North from the South. By dusk, folk songs were sung and political impressions had everyone laughing. But in less than ten hours the joyful innocence of this evening would become only a distant memory.

Throughout the night, the bus moved on, quietly through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. With each mile, we moved farther away from what was safe and familiar. As we crossed into Alabama at dawn, we were greeted with a beautiful blue sky and a huge billboard telling us, in no uncertain terms, to go home. Catholics, Jews, the Pope, anybody named Kennedy, Martin Luther King, the President, and northern agitators. We were not welcome and now that we were warned, we should be ready to face the consequences if we continued. On the right side of the sign was a white-hooded Ku Klux Klansman holding a flaming red cross and sitting erect on his white-hooded horse. With the cross pointed directly at our bus, it appeared that the rider was ready to leap off the sign and attack when the order given. Later, we learned that similar signs were erected on every road that entered the state. These signs were intended to intimidate, and they did just that.

Montgomery was still two hours away. Two hours to wonder if the decision to come had been the right one. Two hours to create images of what was waiting for us in a state that publicly proclaimed its hatred for who we were and what we believed in. As we entered Montgomery, the bus driver turned on the announcement system. Through tinny overhead speakers he said, “Can I have your attention please.” He didn’t need to ask for our attention. Although it was one-hunded miles away, everyone still saw that sign, but now in the face of every white person on the street who was staring at our bus.

“I just received a report from our dispatcher that there may be some unruly people on this street. We’re going to turn on to another one to get you to your destination. Now there’s no cause for alarm, but could everyone please move away from the windows”.

Before he even finished saying the last word, rotten vegetables and rocks pelted both sides of the bus. People screamed and dropped to the floor. Through a cracked and smeared window, I saw the distorted faces of hundreds of people. Adults, adolescents and children as young as five, were throwing objects at the bus while hysterically yelling. Although we couldn’t hear them, as each object hit the bus, we could feel their hatred. Behind them stood the Montgomery Mounted Police, some watching impassively, others smiling. The driver increased his speed and abruptly turned left into a narrow alley in which the bus could barely fit. On both sides only the brick walls of the building were visible, now close enough that their cracks and crumbling mortar lines were seen.

Minutes later, we arrived in front of the Jackson Street Baptist Church, located in what had been a quiet black section of Montgomery. We weren’t the first bus to arrive, nor would we be the last. Lining the street were seven other buses, all covered with splattered vegetables and some with broken windows. Within hours, an additional twenty would come. In a daze, we stepped off the bus. After the last person exited, our driver pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and began cleaning the greyhound on the side of his bus. Although he tried to remove the splattered vegetables, he did little more than rearrange them. Within minutes, a young black man came out of his house carrying a bucket of water and rags. Without saying anything, he moved along side the driver and began cleaning the logo with as much affection as you would give to a loved, messy child. The driver, now with glistening eyes, nodded his head without saying anything. Similar scenes would occur with each new bus that arrived on the street.

For the next ten days, these buses and their drivers stood vigil while we marched, were hit by batons, trampled by horses, jailed, completed a hunger strike and spent intimate moments with Martin Luther King. They were waiting to take us home. Throughout our stay, every newspaper in the country, and many throughout the world, carried stories of the events in Montgomery and the march from Selma. In most of the pictures, only the non-violent demonstrators and their frenzied tormentors could be seen. In a few, the Greyhound buses, clean and guarded by their drivers and the community’s residents were visible.

Our journey home would be very different from the ride to Montgomery. No songs were sung, nobody arranged dates, philosophic discussions didn’t occur. We had witnessed and experienced the extremes of human behavior, from self-sacrifice to murder. During the fifteen hour ride, most reflected on what had happened to them, and how their lives would forever be changed.

It has been thirty-six years since the Selma to Montgomery March took place. Many view it as the turning point in the civil rights movement and have offered tributes to its participants: Martin Luther King, Julian Bond, Ralph Abernathy, James Farmer, James Foreman, Stokely Carmichael, the college students who risked their lives, and the people who lost theirs’ for an ideal. Everyone has received the praise they deserved except for one important player.The bus. In the 1960′s driving to the south in a car was too dangerous and flying there cost more than most college students could afford. The only safe and affordable way to Montgomery was on chartered buses, most of which were Greyhounds. It was in these chariots of conscience that committed young people became involved in an event that galvanized the country’s attention and made civil rights something more than a vague concept. Without the buses in the 1960′s, the civil rights movement would still have progressed, but I don’t think at the speed that it did.

I doubt any of these buses survived. When they were retired from service, most were converted into traveling motels for hippie communes, rock groups, and country bands. By now, I’m sure, all have been crushed into blocks of steel, unceremoniously trucked to smelting mills, and endlessly recycled into useful and common objects. But these buses were anything but common.

copyright 2002 Stan Goldberg, stangoldbergwriter.com

This article can be reproduced and distributed without charge for any non-commercial project if the source is provided.

Author Bio: Stan Goldberg, Ph.D.. author of 6 books,100′s articles on end-of-life, grieving, and the recovery of joy. His book, Lessons for the Living was awarded the 2009 Best New International Book at the London Book Festival and an excerpt was the lead chapter in McClead’s Best Buddhist Writings of 2010.

I was speaking to a financial planner at a sporting event in an affluent area of town. He brought up his high school days. His summer job was painting houses of some of the people who were attending. “If only I would have known then what I would be doing today, I would have treated those people better. I would love to have all of their accounts.” This lesson is one that parents should teach to their high school aged children. Their interactions with people now could potentially help them in their future careers instead of hindering them.

I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with networking and small business expert Ty Freyvogel, the author of It’s Not Your Smarts, It’s Your Schmooze. He is respected in his field internationally and has a passion for passing on his knowledge to the next generation. As a father of seven children he knows first hand that it is tricky to get high school kids to see past who they are going to go out with on Saturday, let alone think about their future as adults.

Connecting Through Conversation
Teens today spend a great deal of time in front of televisions and video games. This doesn’t lend itself well to conversation and communication.

Adolescents live and think in the now. Often when they are talking to important people they spend the entire time thinking about what they are going to say next about themselves. Sometimes they think about it so much that they miss out on having an interesting and fluid conversation. Worse than that, they can become bored and end up daydreaming instead of making real connections with people.
Discussion should be give and take. Ty suggests that teens remember to be more “interested” in the other person than trying to be “interesting”. It helps to keep everyone engaged in the conversation. Through connected conversation, links can be made to other people who share commonalities and possible opportunities down the road.

Ty’s Four Schmoozing Tips for Teens
1. Build trust in your relationships.
2. Find a mentor who can guide you.
3. Remember to always say thank you.
4. Never burn your bridges.

Build Trust
Teach your teen to build relationships with the right people. Throughout childhood we teach kids about “stranger danger”. It is important that we also teach our children who they can trust and how to nurture these relationships by being friendly and staying in touch.

Find a Mentor
Help to them understand the importance of choosing positive mentors as role models. If they have a summer job and they respect their boss, encourage them to engage them in discussion. Expose your teens to your peers who are in lines of work in which they have interest. Teens can ask their mentors questions such as:
- What made you decide to do this for a living?
- What do you look for in an employee?
- What was your path and how did you get to here?
- May I stay in touch?

Mentors are often very flattered to be asked these types of questions and to have the opportunity to guide.

Say Thank You
A person makes their first impression during the initial 30 seconds of meeting. It can often help to get the ball rolling by… getting into a conversation, finding something you like about the person, and sincerely complimenting them on it.

A simple “thank you” should be stated when a person receives an admiring comment instead of saying, “Oh no not me” and going on about how the person is wrong in their evaluation of one’s skills. Using the words “thank you” validates the person’s opinion. Speaking of saying thank you, it is also vital to teach your children to always say thank you when someone has been kind. Start your children early on the habit of writing a thank you note (or at the very least an email) when it is appropriate.

Never Burn Your Bridges
Kindness never hurts. Negative words, gossip, and mistreating people often comes back to haunt the person who dealt it out. Make sure that your children know the repercussions of not treating people in the way that they want to be treated. You never know. Someday that same peer that they picked on in junior high could be sitting across the desk from them at a job interview.

Author Bio: Dr. Shellie Hipsky is a Professor of Education at Robert Morris University. Her latest book “Mentoring Magic: Pick the Card for Your Success” is a powerful tool for students around the globe to network and find, form, and sustain a mentoring relationship. Please visit http://mentoringmagic.net

Dance has always and will always be one of the best forms of free expression for people. There are a lot of smaller groups of people who specialize and patronize a certain kind of dance. On a larger scale, countries have their own general cultural dance and it is a type of dance that is unique to them. A country’s national dance can be representative of the creativity and joyfulness of the people.

Ireland is known for their step dance and tap dancing. The Jig is a folk dance that also originated from the Irish. While these forms of dance are available and are practiced in other parts of the world, step dance and tap dance are believed to have originated from Ireland. The Irish seem to have perfected this dance and they can indeed say that this is their dance after all. Here is a brief glimpse of how Irish step dance has influenced a country that truly embraces its history and cultivates it love for the art.

It has been said the earliest form of this dance were done by Druids. But at that time, the dance was not an expression of art, but rather a part of a religious expression with reverence to the great oak tree and the sun. During the twelfth century, Norman customs began to spread throughout Ireland because of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Called ‘Carol’, it was a popular dance that was sung in Irish towns that had been conquered.

The dancers were also observed to use handkerchiefs as their prop when dancing. They are formed in two straight lines which suggests that this is also the old form of the long dance. During the sixteenth century, the same major type of dance was still being performed for the royalties. The peasants dance also came to life and both forms are being considered to be the forerunners of the current Irish dance. There were other varieties of the dance including slow dancing and other tunes with upbeat tempos that are played whenever the king has parties in the castle.

The use of bagpipes was also introduced and the instrument played a key role in Irish celebrations including festivities and weddings as well as other rituals and rites such as wakes.

Dancing is one of a country’s great traditions and gives a sense of ownership and expertise in the arts. Irish tap dancing and step dancing are two of the most popular dances even in other parts of the world. People who see these dances are really amazed because of its uniqueness and the beat that makes people want to jump out of their seats. The techniques are complicated as well so dance competitions are made more challenging when these dances are introduced. So next time you see people tap dancing on TV or doing the step dance, you can better appreciate and maybe even learn and explore more about the dance that has been the source of entertainment for so many people for so many decades.

Author Bio: Criss White is a professional article writer for bridal, wedding, and various other topics. To view some Irish wedding favors or to get other ideas for wedding favors, go to Bridal and Wedding Favors. Note: This article may be reprinted in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active.

The history of the inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands begins several thousand years ago when they migrated from other Polynesian islands. Little is known of this early period of Hawaiian history except what can be discerned through archaeological evidence and oral traditions.

It is believed that throughout this early history, each island of the chain had its own individual rulers. These rules competed amongst themselves to become King of a united Hawaii, and many saw a pressing need for a single ruler to unite all of these competing factions. The first King of Hawaii, Kamehameha I established his authority by conquering each island in the chain until the chain had finally been united.

Before the time of a united Kingdom, the women of Hawaii were bound by the rigid Kapu system, which included many rules that had become a comprehensive social and religious system. For example, men and women were required to eat separately. Many of these rules were changed during the time of King Kamehameha I, when his wife, Queen Kaahumanu, ate with the men. The outdated Kapus were finally changed, which caused a stir throughout Hawaiian society.

King Kamehameha the II, otherwise known as Liholiho, became the next King, at the age of 22, following his father’s death. Queen Kaahuman argued that she was the rightful heir, and Liholiho agreed to share the throne.

Liholiho traveled to England with other Hawaiian nobles, where they toured England and were entertained by English royalty. Unfortunately, they contracted measles while in Europe, and upon their return to Hawaii, spread the disease amongst the native Hawaiians. King Kamehameha II and many of the people of Hawaii perished in the outbreak of measles.

King Kamehameha III, also known as Kauikeaouli, came to power in 1825 after his brother’s death. He was 10 years old when he came to the throne, and ruled for 29 years. As with many Hawaiian nobles, he had married his sister, Princess Nahienaena, in order to keep the bloodlines pure. When missionaries visited the islands, their love was now forbidden. Princess Nahienaena refused to eat and died at the age of 21 years old. The King carried the grief of his sister’s untimely death with him for the rest of his life.

The last of the great King’s sons to rule, he dealt with changes unlike any the islands had ever seen before. During the 29 years that he ruled, Kauikeaowli dealt with increasingly important foreign concerns and issues. It was under this political climate that the first grandson of the Great Kamehameha I (known as Kamehameha IV, or Alexander Liholiho) became King, serving from 1854 to 1863.

The last of the Kamehameha line was King Kamehameha V, Lot. He was brother to King IV and second grandson to the first King. Lot was the last to rule by the old traditions. After him, those that ruled Hawaii had to be elected by the Hawaiian Legislature, rather than belonging to noble bloodlines. Serving from 1863 to 1872, Lot tried to make peace, but it was a difficult time, especially in the Legislature where native Hawaiians refused to speak English, and white legislators refused to speak Hawaiian. Within the span of a few generations, the Kamehameha bloodline had seen significant changes in the Hawaiian lifestyle and political structure – and these changes would continue to happen after the end of the dynasty.

Author Bio: Royal Tiki’s genuine Hawaiian Tiki statues, totems and masks make a great addition to any Tiki bar. Also check our Tiki hut special offers

All of us hope that we will never be in a situation in which we will have to use self defense to preserve our personal safety, the personal safety of others, or our material possessions. But in today’s ever changing world it seems more and more likely that we may be put into a situation in which we will have to defend ourselves.

What will you do if that happens to you? Although TV shows and movies seem to show action movie heroes executing fantastic moves that will disable entire armies, that may be a remote reality even for highly trained martial artists. Plus, in an emergency situation your adrenaline levels will spike and it may be difficult to perform some of the more nuanced movements that are taught in many self-defense classes.

There are a few basic strategies, including physical moves as well as the use of self defense devices, that you can utilize to defend yourself against multiple attackers. Keep in mind that your primary goal should be your safety. Utilize these basic skills to escape from attackers and get to a secure location.

1) Use Your Opponents’ Numbers To Your Advantage

You may be outnumbered, but chances are that your attackers are not trained in working together to fight a single opponent. Use physics to your advantage. You can push one attacker into the others, for example, to buy yourself a few extra seconds of time.

2) Divide and Conquer

Use the age-old strategy of divide and conquer. If possible use natural terrain or impediments to separate your attackers, preventing them from working together against you. Fences, walls and doorways are great urban obstacles that you can use to separate your attackers. If you can’t separate them physically by using a barricade of some sort, you may be able to utilize one attacker against the others by knocking them off balance.

3) Know Your Pressure Points

If you do have to physically strike out at your attackers, try to aim for the sensitive areas of the face, throat and neck. You can also aim a kick or punch at the ankles or knees of your attackers. Demobilizing one or more of your attackers may give you the advantage that you need to escape from harms way. Self defense classes or DVDs may be able to provide you with additional physical strategies. However, in general being up against several attackers, especially when they may be armed, is not a situation you’re likely to escape unharmed unless you have self defense training or are carrying a self defense device.

4) Use Pepper Spray

When it comes to confronting multiple attackers, this is perhaps the most valuable self defense product out there. The wide spray pattern of many pepper spray canisters will allow you to incapacitate several individuals at once. Other devices, such as a stun gun, must be used on each attacker individually, though they are quite effective as well. The key to escaping any attack unharmed – whether you’re against one person or several – is to be as prepared as possible beforehand.

Author Bio: Resist Attack has a full range of TASER devices to keep you and your family safe. Also check our hidden camera specials