Thank your both, Jansen and Ronald, for your insights and adding value to this conservation.
Cheers,
Susan

Magna Carta - written in Latin, signed and immediately repudiated by King John (who spoke French), invalidated by the Pope (who might actually have been able to read it) is somehow considered a blueprint for we commoners (who spoke Old English, Welsh, Old Norse, various Celtish, Saxon and Irish dialects but could read none of them)and our desire for demos. A much ballyhooed and overrated document. I suspect the birthday celebration is designed to draw our attention to Britain as much for racial and hierarchic/wealth accumulation legitimacy as for historical reasons. John and his successors ignored this 'covenant' and remained brutal tyrants for centuries, largely because 'English law' was never written down and varied from location to local, from moment to moment, whim to whim. Limiting the power of rulers was not even a new idea - it was first recorded in about 500BCE, during the world-wide explosion of religions - e.g., Zoaster invented the concept of 'good and evil' - the Buddha renounced his kingship and created Buddhism, Mideastern tribes began an alliance and generated 'common' unifying legends, Christ Mithra was born in Iran and spread his cult west, etc. - nevertheless, discussions of history are important and Ms. Smith is to be congratulated for bringing an important underlying theme into the open. Pour the meade and the discussion begin.

You always come up with timely, educational articles. Much appreciated. We have been fortunate to have received the benefits of the Magna Carta. Unfortunately, I don't believe that many young people even know what it was. History is so devalued these days except by those who want to use it to create a political viewpoint and mold people into their way of thinking.

The bloodless way the Magna Carta was enacted set a precedent for how leadership and the people can come to an agreement without war. Very rare 800 years ago and still rare today. We seem to come to an agreement only after much blood is shed.

Ron