I was born in Wilmington DE and grew up outside of Philadelphia. I still have a soft spot for the city and its place in American, indeed world, history. I visited all the sites, (the Liberty Bell, Carpenters' Hall, Independence Hall et al) as a kid of course but found myself drawn back to them later in life. Before moving to Britain I lived a stone's throw from Valley Forge. It is still difficult to think of good old blue collar Philadelphia as a radical hot spot but 240 years ago it was!
The Philadelphia of the late 18th century belongs on the roll of honour of the history of democracy. After all, it was in Philadelphia that the first truly successful revolution against monarchic tyranny was declared. Most Americans, especially the politicians, like to forget the radical underpinnings of the nation. Washington and Adams being preferred to more radical men such as Jefferson, Madison and Paine.
There is a place in Britain, at its moment in history it was just a field, which deserves a place on the roll of honour as well. Its moment was nearly 800 years ago. The place is Runnymede. The reason for its fame is the Manga Carta which remains one of the most important documents in British and American law. It is perhaps the first document to begin to spell out rights of man and limits on government. I have been to Runnymede to see the place and I have been to the British Library to see the document.
Habeas corpus predates 1215 when the Magna Carta was signed. However the document that King John signed states that "...no free man shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or exiled or in any way destroyed except by the lawful judgment of their peers or by the law of the land".
The concept of habeas corpus, one of the basic foundations of American freedom, was dealt a cruel blow last week. Only time will tell if the blow is fatal or not. We are only nine years away from the Magna Carta's 800th anniversary. I shall make a point of getting to Runnymede whether there is still something to celebrate or not!
The Philadelphia of the late 18th century belongs on the roll of honour of the history of democracy. After all, it was in Philadelphia that the first truly successful revolution against monarchic tyranny was declared. Most Americans, especially the politicians, like to forget the radical underpinnings of the nation. Washington and Adams being preferred to more radical men such as Jefferson, Madison and Paine.
There is a place in Britain, at its moment in history it was just a field, which deserves a place on the roll of honour as well. Its moment was nearly 800 years ago. The place is Runnymede. The reason for its fame is the Manga Carta which remains one of the most important documents in British and American law. It is perhaps the first document to begin to spell out rights of man and limits on government. I have been to Runnymede to see the place and I have been to the British Library to see the document.
Habeas corpus predates 1215 when the Magna Carta was signed. However the document that King John signed states that "...no free man shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or exiled or in any way destroyed except by the lawful judgment of their peers or by the law of the land".
The concept of habeas corpus, one of the basic foundations of American freedom, was dealt a cruel blow last week. Only time will tell if the blow is fatal or not. We are only nine years away from the Magna Carta's 800th anniversary. I shall make a point of getting to Runnymede whether there is still something to celebrate or not!
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