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Liberty and democracy are distinct. Liberty is about protection from power and democracy is about who enjoy’s those protections.
Magna Carta was something of a muddle in the 13th century, a collection of promises extracted in bad faith from a reluctant king. That great charter was dry, technical, difficult to decipher and constitutionally obsolete. It lasted for less than ten weeks and was declared inoperative by the church.
King John was forced to promise that “no Free Man is to be arrested or imprisoned or outlawed or exiled or ruined in any way”, “to no one will we sell, to no one will we deny, delay, right or justice.”
Because of his inherited ruthlessness, cruelty and interest in warfare, much like his brother “the lionheart Richard 1” John was under debt and needed his angry Baron’s support to survive and thus out of force he signed the ultimate document of British liberty at Runnymede.
The impact of the rights of a “free man” became the clause 39 and 40 of a modern political and constitutional system in majority countries of the world. Though the charter has gone through major changes over a period of time and became a major inspiration of Us declaration of independence in 1775 and in 1948 Unites Nations charter for human rights. It was an important document for revolters of new England who later became the founding fathers of United States.
The history of the charter rooted in the reign of King Henry, father of King John. The Barons and the people dissatisfied with the law system and arbitrary rule proceeded to civil war and in order to establish a peace treaty Magna Carta was formed. Magna Carta was for everyone but it declared, “English church shall be free”, which makes me question what is the exact meaning of freedom. If no one is above the law not even the king than why is religion greater than law, is it because we confuse religion with god?
Well the most controversial word in human history is “freedom” perhaps. Though Magna Carta offers liberty, democracy and establishment of law that promises rights of a “free man” But who will decide if one is actually a “free man”? Will it be the ones who run the parliament or the ones who chooses their rulers.
Though The Magna Carta’s term “free man” applied to only best ten or twenty percent of England’s adult population in 1215. Sadly, nothing has changed even now.
