On June 15, 1215, just eight hundred years ago, King John of England was forced by his nobles to sign the Magna Carta Libertatum -- the Great Charter of Liberties -- and democracy was born in Europe after many centuries of feudalism. True, it was mainly the nobles who secured rights from the king, rather than the commoners -- but it was a start, and a major step which has ultimately led to democracy in America as well.
The relevance of the Magna Carta has never been greater than today, when democracy is being challenged by the forces of intolerance and injustice all over the world. From the dictatorships in North Korea to the terrorists of ISIS and Al Qaeda and others who wish to oppress those who do not see things their way, the forces of oppression grow.
Even in free discourse, as through OpEdNews.com, when some commenters disagree with a posted article, they attack its author in vile and abusive terms. The Magna Carta is needed in spirit in such cases also, lest freedom of speech be abridged by bullying tactics which mainly inhibit free speech in violation of the modernized goals of the Magna Carta today.
