A Review of Iraqi Elections

A Review of Iraqi Elections
My apologies to regular readers for my silence of the past week, as my creative energies have been focused elsewhere. One issue I have intended to comment on prior to now is the recent elections held in Iraq. The naysayers will always find something to complain about rather than concede any kind of success in Iraq, but let’s just pause to review a few pertinent facts about what happened in those historic elections. First of all, some have suggested that perhaps there wasn’t enough voter turnout to be representative. Nonsense. The Iraqi elections boasted nearly a 60% voter turnout. To put that in perspective, we usually have less than 50% of our citizens vote, and sometimes as low as 40%. Bear in mind, also, that the 60% Iraqi turnout was in spite of nationwide death threats from terrorists. Clearly, it was the will of the people to exercise their free will, whatever the danger to themselves or their families. Furthermore, a significant percentage of those voters were women, which is even more amazing considering how women are often oppressed in Islamic culture. The record should also show that, even in our own country, it took 150 years for women to win the right to vote. Some have also proclaimed that the election might be invalidated by the presence of an occupying force. To them I pose the question, “In the last hundred years, what nation has the United States ever occupied and kept control of?” None. In all those years we have never asked for any more land than was required to burry our dead. There could be no elections without our presence. Consequently, we are a liberating force which has ended not years, but centuries of tyranny. In fact, throughout the millennia of recorded history, the people of that region have never before had the right, nor even any hope, of self government. They have always lived at the mercy of a tyrant or dictator. Therefore, to those who would call our war an unjust war, I merely endeavor to point out that the people of Iraqi have lived for generations as the victims of an unjust peace. Finally, can we justify the price paid in American lives? Since hostilities commenced early in 2003 almost 1500 American service men and women have sacrificed their lives. That is indeed a terrible cost, especially for their loved ones. However, their precious blood purchased the freedom of nearly 23 million Iraqi citizens. If the United States of America is the defender of liberty, and our armed forces are the instruments thereof, then I believe the price we have paid is wholly justified. If not us, then who will stand against tyranny and for those oppressed. The great irony of freedom is that it can never be free. We have purchased it for the people of Iraq … and we have paid dearly for it. This great nation was founded on the principle that each human being has an inalienable right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We also believe that those rights are worth fighting and dying for and we have proven so time and again. Not every nation agrees with us right now. The record must show, however, that many of those selfsame nations have been either the beneficiaries or the protagonists in our historical struggle against tyranny, and the world is a better place because of our stalwart efforts on that front. There will always be naysayers. There will always be selfish nations who remain on the political sidelines and complain while someone else does all the great work of compassion and liberation. I, for one, am willing to accept their abuse because I am all the more willing to accept our responsibility. The elections in Iraq are a great victory in that ongoing struggle. Yes, it was worth it.

The Voice of Freedom
I am the voice of freedom
The words of Franklin and Jefferson
The cry of Patrick Henry
And the cheers of the minutemen
Mine was the pen of Francis Scott Key
In the battle of Baltimore
As he saw the stars and stripes flying
At dawn on that smoke shrouded shore
I was at Vicksburg and Shiloh
Harpers Ferry, Pea Ridge and Bull Run
Lincoln spoke of me at Gettysburg
After that bloody battle was done
I was sung by immigrants
As they passed the Statue of Liberty
I was heard in the trenches of France
And I returned at Normandy
Twice, I spread across Europe
As my oppressors fell and fled
Rising out of the hearts of men
Who thought I was left for dead
Even today, I linger
Upon the lips of those who are just
Who right the wrongs of evil men
By making the sacrifices they must
Whenever a people downtrodden
Dare to whisper a prayer of me
Wherever a tyrant is toppled
By the ideals of democracy
I will be there, upon their lips
In the step, in the heart, in the eyes
Of those who struggle against oppressors
For I am their battle cry
I resound throughout the nations
Overcoming both doubt and fear
I am the voice of freedom
The voice all men long to hear
By Frank Carpenter ©