The Root of The Constitution: The Magna Carta Turns 800 on June 15h

[Roadrunner]

Magna Carta was, indeed, obtained with the swords of the nobility pointed at the king's throat.

And, of course, it was largely a covenant between that same nobility and the king, for the benefit of that nobility, rater than the Commons.

Still, limitations on royal power had to begin someplace, and Magna Carta was where it all began.

It does not matter that it was repudiated and resurrected and amended after its signing.

What does matter is that it was the Starting Point for the rule of Constitutional Law.

I submit that much too much is made of the Magna Carta being a "starting point" for freedom and tolerance. It was perhaps the first documented on paper agreement to petty concessions by the monarchy in a history of hundreds if not thousands of verbal or lost documented petty concessions agreed to by the monarchy and later reneged on but it had nothing to do with freedom or tolerance or self government. The Cromwell revolution three hundred years after the Magna Carta indicates that the people of Briton were afraid of self government and the Magna Carta had nothing to do with freedom.

I, for one, did not claim that Magna Carta was a 'starting point' for freedom and tolerance.

I merely cited Magna Carta as a starting point for Constitutional Law - at least within the framework of English Law, which we adopted and mutated and made our own.

White men made it; expect detractors, many irrational ignorant detractors.

 

[Roadrunner]

The Anti-Magna Carta folks don't realize it was the enduring idea on the Limits of Government power that was so unique in human history. The Magna Carta isn't the final word, it's the start of an ongoing effort of individuals to have their persons and property protected by law from the Soveriegn-State-Party-Dictator...whatever.

They are not anti-Magna Carta, they are anti-whiteguys who wrote Magna Carta.

 

[boedicca]

The Anti-Magna Carta folks don't realize it was the enduring idea on the Limits of Government power that was so unique in human history. The Magna Carta isn't the final word, it's the start of an ongoing effort of individuals to have their persons and property protected by law from the Soveriegn-State-Party-Dictator...whatever.

They are not anti-Magna Carta, they are anti-whiteguys who wrote Magna Carta.

Or more generally: Anti-Western Civ.

 

[SwimExpert]

Please go post your baleful ignorance somewhere else. This is a positive thread to celebrate an important aspect of Western Civilization.

So only people who agree with you are allowed to post?

Since we're talking about the 800th anniversary, if we are going to talk about Magna Carta, we must do it within the context of the 1215 document. That document was, in effect, an attempted peace treaty to resolve open rebellion against the crown. It was also a failure. It was not until 1297 that Magna Carta became part of established law. The vast majority of it has been repealed between then and now.

It's clear you lack both the intellectual curiosity and honesty to reach the sources at the links I provided.

Both address your historical ignorance.

What hell is up with you today?

 

[SwimExpert]

The Anti-Magna Carta folks don't realize it was the enduring idea on the Limits of Government power that was so unique in human history.

Actually, that wasn't unique at all. Such limitations had been established back into antiquity. And in all reality, Magna Carta did not establish limitations on government power. It merely was a divvying of power between the King and those nobles who administered local governance.