What motivated me to write the book was an absolute calling, or strong sense of responsibility that I needed to share an experience of such great magnitude and magnificence. The motivation was to add more light in such fragmented times with a story that has always inspired, refreshed and renewed my heart. I wrote very . . . .
Author Susanne Seymoure

Focus on Women of History

Empress Theodora:
Origins of Women's Rights

By Douglas A. Burton

There are many currents that flow into the story of women's rights. Many cultures from early Judaism to Ancient Greece are recognized for their egalitarian traditions, and we have countless examples of great women in power—from Pharaoh Hatsheput to Queen Victoria to Eleanor Roosevelt. But one woman—Empress Theodora— achieved such a decisive victory for women in her time that her relative obscurity is astounding. More than fifteen hundred years ago, Empress Theodora helped influence sweeping legal reforms known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, which included a wave of specific rights for women. Historians credit this body of Roman law as providing some foundational groundwork to the Western legal tradition. Therefore, Empress Theodora made direct contributions to a legal codex that influenced the American Constitution, English common law, and even modern international public law. So, who is Empress Theodora? Abandoned by most Western thinkers throughout the centuries, Empress Theodora came off as a salacious novelty, a Medieval prostitute-stripper who made it to the top through a lucky marriage. The scandalous gossip of her past, which is handed down to us by a single male source, no doubt stirred the imaginations of Western historians for centuries. However, as a prostitute, Theodora was part of an institutional system that marginalized women to an extreme. Unlike today, professional outlets for women were severely restrictive. A large number of women worked in theaters and brothels. So, although this professional class of women carried a huge social stigma, their industry was one of the few places where women worked publicly outside the traditional family structure and earned real income. A certain law, though, prevented prostitutes from marrying a man of rank. Such a rigid class system was characteristic of a Roman world view that regarded rank as self-evident. Secondly, even under the Christian perspective, prostitution was regarded as immoral and sinful. Therefore, when Theodora helped to facilitate the removal of the marriage ban, she did so without the support of either the secular or religious tradition. Her personal world view alone seems to have guided the legal reform. Empress Theodora's perspective was necessary for addressing women's rights at the time because she had firsthand knowledge and experience about the reality for women. Also, under Empress Theodora, rape was made punishable by death. This law extended to anyone present during the rape, regardless of position or rank, and the rapist's property was even transferred to the rape victim. The male-dominated bureaucracy of the Byzantine Empire had little interest in addressing such issues. But Theodora dared to speak out about specific issues. But more importantly, she insisted on designing real-world solutions, defined in legal terms, to fix the problems she knew existed. Our culture is taking a second look at history and rediscovering the many contributions of women throughout the ages. I believe that Theodora deserves to take her place among the Pantheon of our greatest women in history.

Douglas A. Burton's award-winning novel, 'Far Away Bird,' which details Theodora's early life, is available in paperback. For the full article on Empress Theodora, please visit douglasaburton.com.

https://writerhaven.podbean.com/mf/play/u7h58j/Douglas_Burton.mp3

Faithful as She Fades

A Memoir of Love and Dementia

By Robert Fischbach

The first person account of the author's heart breaking journey as caregiver to his beloved wife throughout her relentless battle with Frontal Temporal Dementia. It takes her speech, personality, and essence.

Fischbach takes the reader on a heartfelt, emotional, sometimes funny and always moving journey. This book is an insider's look into one of the most terrible illnesses with which a person can be afflicted. A testament to the power of love.

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY—Your worst fears becomes reality, your coping strengths, values, and priorities are tested to their limits. This book serves first as a catharsis for the author, getting all his inner feelings, memories, out of his being. Secondly, to hopefully help other caretakers who currently are or might find themselves facing the unthinkable. Helping to give them the knowledge of what decisions must be faced and made, as they go down this horrific road.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Raised in a working class family, Robert Fischbach went to college in Cincinnati and resettled in Atlanta, where he lives today with his family. He was taught by his father, who was his best friend, to work hard, possess toughness, ethics, honesty, and fairness. He started and helmed his own real estate business.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

When illusions are abound, discernment is our greatest ally. From Social Media. to cable news sources, to self-serving messengers, and from as Shakespeare puts it, statements from those who feed us half-truths that lead us to our harm. All can be ingredients that make up a main course of gluttonous information stemming from sources of dubious intent. In the absence of critical thinking, we may find ourselves in a self-imposed eclipse of misinformation. In essence, to be well informed, and armed with truth, it behooves us to question the maelstrom of information that surrounds us, take time to examine the motives of the source and look beyond the facade of appearances to probe deeper to determine facts from fiction. It is through these means that we are empowered to make informed decisions to improve the quality of our lives, our community and our world.

"Fair is foul and foul is fair." -- William Shakespeare

Happy Summer,

All the best,
Joslyn (Joslyn Wolfe, Publisher)

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2010 Jan/Feb issue
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