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Michael Moore is quiet this week after the Iraqi elections happened on schedule, with smashing success. Most source report turnout of eligible voters in Iraq at better than 60%. To put that in perspective, the surprisingly high turnout for the last election here in the United States — highest since 1968 — was 60.7%. Depending on how you look at it, that’s either great for Iraq, or terrible for Americans.
Overheard: “Who do you think has the healthier democracy?”
The people of Iraq spoke out loudly this week, in support of freedom and condemnation of violence. Even Americans are celebrating in the way they know best, at the stock market.
It’s a messy situation in the Middle East. Obviously there are millions of citizens who reveled in the privilege of their first free election. And all people want freedom from fear and persecution. However, there are violent forces in the area who would rather rule than see the people set free, and it has been the opinion of most of the world that it would be better to let those forces of violence have their way than to impose freedom on a people who are not ready for it. I hope those nations have learned something this week. You cannot impose freedom on anyone. You cannot force fair government on a nation that is not ready. Why? Because it is the hope and desire of every man and woman. No nation would choose tyranny. As we are seeing in Iraq and as history tells us of our own country, men and women will risk their lives and fortunes to break the shackles of oppression and fear.
I’ve no doubt that many Iraqis still see American troops as occupiers in their land. However, many of those proudly raised their ink-stained fingers into the air on election day. And that’s really all that matters. Eventually, foreign troops will leave the country. But they will leave a country with a freely elected government and a volunteer army made of men and women who are proud to serve a country that the built. Iraqi citizens have a privilege none of us alive to day can speak for. They are at this moment shaping the beginnings of their country, the writing of their constitution. They are their own founding fathers.