Victims no more
The Iraqi elections seem to have been such a success that even the New York Times could not resist offering tepid praise to the process:
Nevertheless, let's hope and pray for a day when the kind of violence that has been experienced throughout Iraq will give way to a new day of hope and peace, providing opportunities for all of the people of that country and that these words which we hold dear will prove true for each man and woman of Iraq as well:
The process has clearly given Iraqis a new hope for a better life. When I was a pastor in Massachusetts, I had a young Iraqi citizen in my church. During the initial attacks on Iraq, he told me how, in spite of what the mainstream media of this country told us, the Iraqi people wanted to be free and welcomed the chance to see a day like we have just witnessed; a day when Iraqi men and women have the opportunity to choose leaders to represent their own interests rather than to be oppressed by the selfish interests of a murderous dictator. Clearly, my friend was right. The Times quotes 25 year old Najaf Goldsmith echoing similar sentiments as he dropped his ballot into the box: "We feel now that we are human beings living in this country. Now I feel I have a responsibility, I have a vote. Things will go right if people leave us alone to do what we want to do. If they leave the Iraqi people to decide for themselves, things will get better." Though perhaps his desire to be left alone is a bit premature in the case of security, certainly he is right. The Iraqi people will be fine as a democracy, given the chance and the support that any fledgling democracy requires. Perhaps the most encouraging account of Iraq's determination to thrive as a democracy came in the Times' report of the voting that occurred within the Shiite areas of Baghdad:At least for now, the large turnout appeared to vindicate the strategy to hold elections sooner rather than later, over the objections of many Sunni leaders and in the face of the ferocious insurgency. That strategy, advocated by Ayatollah Sistani and President Bush, drew criticism that it would further divide the country and that, in any case, the Iraqis were not ready.
With vehicular traffic banned and American and Iraqi forces imposing especially tight security, the attacks on Sunday were carried out in some cases by men wearing explosive vests who rushed polling centers and blew themselves up.Such determination reminds me of how a young democracy was born some 200 plus years ago when confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The sheer will and determination of the young Americans led to the great Nation that we are today. Will it be easy for Iraq from now on? Of course not. There will be many great challenges ahead with many who will continue to try and stifle the freedoms that are already felt throughout the country. But why should we expect anything different? Freedom is always costly and difficult to achieve. It certainly hasn't been easy for us and we still have struggles within our democracy to this day.
In the Shiite and Kurdish areas, the strategy clearly failed. In Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad, including Sadr City, many Iraqis cast their ballots to the sounds of exploding shells.
In some cases, the violence seemed to goad the Iraqis on. In the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Khadamiya in northern Baghdad, where nearly 100 people were killed in a terror attacks last year, the turnout was said to approach 80 percent.
Nevertheless, let's hope and pray for a day when the kind of violence that has been experienced throughout Iraq will give way to a new day of hope and peace, providing opportunities for all of the people of that country and that these words which we hold dear will prove true for each man and woman of Iraq as well:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.Let freedom ring.
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 1/31/2005 01:30:00 AM
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1 Comments:
These are exciting times, indeed. I have not been this happy about an election since, er, well November...but this is an entirely different kind of happiness. I'm so dang proud of the part we and our partners played in making this a reality. It's corny to say perhaps, but God has blessed America with great wealth and power, and I believe He smiles on our wisdom in using the fruits of those blessings for good.
Anyway, great post. The lovers of freedom around the world are joining us in celebration of this most excellent victory against the forces of evil.
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