Followers

Friday 4 July 2008

Friday 55 Flash Fiction # 34 The Agreement

The Agreement
"We need to draw up rules and regulations to be agreed and abided by" Baron said
It'll take a long time to get it agreed, but we must persevere."
The others agreed.
Finally finished, John signed the first draft....
In 1215
At Runneymede
The Magna Carta, (giving rights to the people of England), was Law.

In view of our Government's proposals to detain people without charge for 42 days, I wrote this to remind myself of what was agreed in 1215

No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions ... except by the lawful judgement of his peers.

''To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.'

Two clauses from Magna Carta became the fifth and sixth amendments of the American Constitution:

Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

You can read about the Magna Carta here.

Sorry not fiction this week but definitely 55 words.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.

30 comments:

Pam said...

great piece of history, ake! another 55 well done. hey, not all mine are ever fiction either lol :) i'll have mine posted up in a little over an hour

MarmiteToasty said...

:) you 55ers are so clever.... another great one.... love the story of the magna carta... gotta love British history...... especially as its the 4th of July over in doodle land lol

x

Laura Jane Williams said...

Very thought-provoking. An interesting take on the new law! x

PU2B2 said...

ehm..that's the come-about of the democracyt in Britain, huh? I just did a project on that topic for Political Science :)

Eel Wind (Elween)

Jennifer S said...

Under the best of circumstances, it's not fiction.

Well done.

Marianne said...

Very interesting - I didn't realise the Magna Carta had been so sophisticated- great stuff! x

L.C.T. said...

Ooooh! That is an exciting post because I live in the town where it was signed!!

Mona said...

Ah! Magna Carta. Yes, we read about it in our history Lessons!

Great 55 Akelamalu!

Flowerpot said...

very interesting Ak. I donlt remember learning about the Magna Carta so that's my history topped up!

bindhiya said...

Another Great one!
have a good day.
((hugs))
bindi

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

thanks for the info! and have a great day my friend! i shall too...

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

storyteller said...

A history lesson in 55words … very ‘kewl’ … especially on our 4th of July! We Americans are still ‘rebels’ it seems ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Ciara, I'll be over later to read yours.

The Magna Carta is a very important part of our history Marmie as you know and very relevant in the light of what the Government are proposing at the moment.

The common people fought long and hard to get justice and fairness and I don't believe it should be forgotten GIM.

Ah you'll know all about it then >
Elween :)

Thanks Jennifer x

Yes it wasn't it Marianne?

You live in Runneymede lct?

I hope you found it interesting Mona?

I thought it was part of the curriculum Flowerpot? If not itI think it should be.

Cheers Bindi x

You too Bee xx

Mimi Lenox said...

I loved this especially since today is Independence Day in the U.S. Very nice, my little Hawaiian girl! I do enjoy your Flash Fiction....even when it's serious.
Always brilliantly done.

Donnetta said...

Ah, I remember the Magna Carta from school. Where do these wonderful ideas come from? Great thinking.
Donnetta

snowelf said...

Oh, that is awesome! I love how you wrote this!! Well done Lady A! :)

--snow

smarmoofus said...

Funny how people in power forget history... in that not-funny way, of course. Heck, they forget the present. Many of the rights granted in the Magna Carta were carried over, but you wouldn't know it. Thought-provoking 55, Ake.

Time to go celebrate the anniversary of my nation's rebellion. Vive la révolution! (Actually, it's been rather wet here, so there isn't much celebrating going on.)

-smarmoofus

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Since I've been watching 'Robin Hood' lately on DVD, and since the rotten sheriff is all gaga over Prince John, future signatory of the Magna Carta, it seems so ironic that a ruler of his ilk can be responsible for such an important piece of law.

I loved your 'documentary style' flash fiction today, Akelamalu. I enjoyed reading that it was signed at Runneymede, because I met my husband when we both worked at the Runnymede Theatre in Toronto.

Linda said...

Perhaps you should come up with the idea to write Flash Fiction (or Non-fiction as the case may be) for high school history classes and maybe - just maybe - students might actually learn something! Very well done!

G-Man said...

Ake...
I love historical 55's!!
Thank you so much for having one from The Mother Country, on our Independance week-end...
Great Job...Galen xo

~ej said...

love this :)

Akelamalu said...

Glad you liked it Mimi, it does hold some relevance to Independance Day.

Thankyou Rebicmel :)

cheers Donnetta

Oh you're too kind Snowelf x

Yes our Governments forget too easily what the common people fought hard for don't they Smarmoofus.

Runnymede is special to you too then Julia :)

a bit like infants flash cards eh Linda? Not a bad idea!

I'm pleased you liked it g-man x

Thanks Elena x

buffalodick said...

We have so many laws, I must break 5 a day without even knowing it...

Ron said...

Why is it that learning about history, is so much more interesting NOW, than when I was a kid in school??

Having moved back to Philly years ago, I'm just NOW starting to relearn so many wonderful things about our goverment and history.

And it's FUN!

Thanks for this posting this, Akelamalu...VERY cool!

Akelamalu said...

Oh I know the feeling Buff!

I think we have more patience now Ron, as kids we just wanted to be out there doing something! :)

Unknown said...

Excellent. We Americans, enchanted by our Declaration of Independence, too often forget the importance of the Magna Carta.

Thank you for the reminder!

Travis Cody said...

The roots of our liberty and laws are in the history and development of civilized nations. We're quick to demand and defend our rights, even if we've forgotten...or never learned...where the ideas for them originated.

Akelamalu said...

The Magna Carta isn't given it's due even here Nick!

It's imperative that peoples defend their rights and liberty Trav, a lot of people gave their life in the past so that we could be free. :)

KB said...

Wonderful idea for a 55!

Akelamalu said...

Thanks KB :)