The DNA of Democracy

978-0960072330, Lylea Creative Resources, Inc. Lylea.com You mention in the book’s preface that your studies of “history and human character” inspired you to write this book. Why were you inspired to write it now, at this particular point in history? I have noticed that not many people know the foundations of our democracy, and not many people know how our democracy is similar and different from democracies that came before it. I have noticed that not many people know what elements compose a democracy or how those elements are structured locally, regionally, and federally, and why they are structured in such a way. The answers are to be found in the histories of former democracies. In certain parts of our own history, there are core elements which I term Democracy’s DNA, and they need to be known to be defended. You include a broad range of quotes within your book, from Plato to Shakespeare to Frederick Douglass. How did you decide which were most pertinent to include? If you are a writer, you are first a reader, second a harvester, and eventually a composer of ideas from the very broad spectrum of influences represented in the literary works of the greatest minds of humanity. I have reference lists of many great authors that I can call upon in support of ideas. The revolutionary era in Europe and America, termed in literature, the Romantic Era, is bursting with literary genius for example, particularly from those souls whom I call in the book, “The Light Bearers.” There is a very deliberate focus on women in your book, emphasizing their contributions to historical events. Was finding information on these overshadowed women a difficult aspect of your research? I did come upon some fascinating women in the research for this work. Historically, one finds many remarkable women, good and ill, and as vastly different as an Elizabeth I and a Cleopatra. In America, where government began locally and remained there for a century and a half, women had a major impact. History records the deeds of generals and kings between kingdoms and countries. The history of America began in the home and family, in the congregation and the school, in associations and towns where the impact of women is and has always been profound.