July’s American Historical Moments

July’s American Historical Moments BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Patriotism is a concept that brings people together. In July, especially, the feeling emanates with the reminder of how “We the People” live in a safe, well-defended free nation. The struggle for defined freedom began with collective ideas, planning, collaboration, and willingness to stand and verbalize the conditions of the fight. Throughout history, the acts of people showcase the American notion of grit and determination.

JULY 2nd, 1776 Between 1763 and 1775, Britain began imposing laws to regulate trade and created a new burden, excess taxes. The payment was expected in British pounds sterling rather than colonial currency , and new bill even brought forth the necessity to mail legal documents and papered goods with a government-issued stamp. In the midst of rising tensions, colonials, denied any right to voice complaints to the British Parliament and willing to sacrifice themselves to create a democratic nation for all, stepped forward to form the Continental Congress. As state delegates lobbied to support severing ties with Britain, “The Committee of Five”— John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Roger Livingston—began drafting the Declaration of Independence. After the final touches, Jefferson presented the document to Congress on June 28th, 1776. On July 2nd, Congress voted unanimously for the Declaration! Two days later, John Hancock and 56 others signed, knowing their signature was an act of treason.

FACT: Philadelphia printer John Dunlap reproduced hundreds of copies to dispatch across the 13 colonies. In 1989, an original “Dunlap broadside,” discovered hidden in a $4 frame and purchased at a flea market, sold at an auction for $8.1 million.

JULY 19th, 1848 In Seneca Falls, New York, women activists called for a “Women’s Rights Convention” led by a young mother named Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Her Declaration of Sentiments began with, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.” At a public forum of 300 people, including Frederick Douglass, Stanton and a friend, Lucretia Mott, demanded equality of financial and educational opportunities, equal marriage and property rights, social and cultural norms, and all rights and privileges of United States citizens. The demonstration introduced a meeting and life-long friendship between Stanton and Massachusetts teacher Susan B. Anthony. After the Civil War, they pushed lawmakers to guarantee women’s rights.

FACT: Despite not being eligible to vote in 1866, Stanton was the first woman to run for a Congressional seat. She received 24 of 12,000 votes. JULY 4th, 1876 Giving up was not Susan B. Anthony’s style. It mattered not that she was barred from speaking at the centennial 4th of July celebration at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. With the help of friends, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, copies of the speech were passed to attendees outside the building. A crowd arrived to hear the impassioned words to impeach all government officials who did not acknowledge the promises of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and to women. Anthony believed that until women had a right to vote, contributing to elect dutiful lawmakers, society wouldn’t take a woman in politics seriously!

FACT: Seventy-two years later, in 1920, the Declaration of Sentiments achieved a goal. Congress passed the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

JULY 2nd, 1964 After landmark cases and non-violent demonstrations, from support of eliminating segregation in schools to the Montgomery bus boycott and the actions of Rosa Parks, to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., a significant moment became a law. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination based on race and allowing the government to cut funding where it had occurred.

FACT: The Civil Rights Act provided equal protection through the laws of citizenship and protection of voting rights under the 14th and 15th Amendments.

JULY 16th, 1969 Color televisions became popular in the mid-1960s. It was a benefit if your family had one by July of 1969. Over 550 million people worldwide tuned in to watch Apollo 11’s moon launch. Four days later, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon’s surface. With two 16mm motion picture film cameras, one color, and a black-and-white television camera attached to the external module, the world witnessed approximately two and a half hours of live coverage and audio.

FACT: Buzz Aldrin and Armstrong spent the day walking on the surface, while Michael Collins, the third pilot, remained in a module, orbiting the moon.

The feet are the carriers of the body. After walking on various surfaces, even though our shoes are well padded, it’s often satisfying to sit, elevate the legs, and relax. The simple act of elevating a foot and applying pressure on different acupoints can return the body to optimal health, or even cure disease. For thousands of years, the practice of reflexology has facilitated energy flow in 15 points on the foot, while eight alleviated pain.

WHAT IS REFLEXOLOGY?

As people choose an alternative for prescription medications, a holistic option can prevent, manage, and treat ailments. The solution is a zone therapy, termed reflexology.

Understanding Reflexology

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

As pressure is applied to a particular reflex or zone, the associated nerve will send signals to a specific organ, limb, gland, or system. While it may sound similar to massage, a reflexologist engages in stimulating your body’s natural healing power to repair itself.

The benefits are:

• Increased Blood Circulation:

Applied pressure forces the blood to circulate, reaching vital organs.

In receiving oxygenated blood, the body can eliminate toxins and regrow contaminated or damaged cells.

• Eliminated Toxins: As blood circulation increases, the body can flush out toxins and improve bladder function.

• Improved Nerve Function: Each pressure point is a nerve. Through stimulation, it boosts brain functioning, information flow, memory, and cognitive reactions.

• Reduced Tension-Based Symptoms:

The power of touch creates a relaxing environment that also aids those who suffer from headaches and migraines, stress and anxiety, and sleep deprivation.

THE FOOT IS A GUIDE MAP

The foot is a road map, divided into five longitudinal and transverse zones on each side of your body. It begins at the tip of each toe and runs up to the top of your head. A transverse zone, similar to a line of latitude, corresponds to areas of your head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

REDUCE STRESS & MENSTRUAL PAIN: On the top side of your foot, place your thumb between the big and second toe, where the tendons meet. Apply deep and firm pressure for five seconds.

HOT FLASHES & NIGHT SWEATS: Find the fleshy point directly below the second toe, aptly named Bubbling Springs Point. Firm pressure aids symptoms associated with perimenopause by calming anxiety, hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia.

ELIMINATE HEADACHES & DIZZINESS: Pressure right below the big toe joint and second toe (point KD 1) will open the sensory orifices to aid blurry vision, ringing ears, sore throat, and headaches. Continue the massage for two minutes on each foot.

BODY IMBALANCE: The bony bump on the outside of the ankle identifies the pressure point. Applying pressure can help any feeling of imbalance on the left and right sides of the body, feelings of dizziness, headaches, swelling, or pain in the legs.

STABILIZES MOOD: Direct the thumb an inch below the bony bump on the outside of the ankle. Use massage on this point to reduce mental stress.

STOMACH ACHES & DIZZINESS: Below the inside nail of the big toe is the pressure point. Hold firmly for five seconds on each foot.

GASTRIC ISSUES: In helping to relieve the body from constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and sluggishness, use the acupressure point found by pressing on the inner foot at the depression area (beginning of the curve) down from the big toe. Start for three minutes. As hunger pains arrive, increase the time.

RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES: Feel between the Achilles tendon and the bony bump on the ankle. Pressure here helps alleviate numerous symptoms, from relieving toothache and sore throat to breathing issues, such as bronchitis and asthma.

EASE LABOR PAINS: With a thumb and index finger, firmly pinch the outer edge of the pinky toe, where the nail bed starts. Women have found that this eased the pain during the first stage of labor.

Tip: For self-therapy in reducing labor pain, apply gentle pressure on the webbed skin between the thumb and pointer finger, directly below the knuckle. Massage for a minute, wait; then, repeat.

Since reflexology is an ancient practice, its origin and history are difficult to track; however, a pictograph with hieroglyphics etched on papyrus, estimated from the year 2330 BC, illustrates the value of hand and foot reflexology. With the later arrival of detailed charts of the feet and hands, holistic therapy continues to restore the body.