some voting stories

[salim]

I know people who drove from San francisco to LA late night , driving for 9 hrs to reigster and comeback on same day.

I was talking to some family members inside Iraq on the phone this morning .. One strange case, a cousin is a parralized since born can't speak but understand .. She want to join after she recongnized that her name is listed.. Her brother and old Mom need to hold her, marching on foot to the post.

I asked them to get photos for her voting , I don't know if photos are allowed though!

 

Amazing.. howmuch the call to freedom is so strong , people are talking about unbelievable stories .. They are scared to death but they keep saying we will do it. Some are planning to wear coffins " a white light dress" and pray before leaving to the posts.They told me that they want dye clean!

On one Mosque there was a call for volunteers to replace those ellection officails who might be killed , immediately 700 young 17-23 old men and women registerd.

While I write , I am crying , alot of my family members and friends are going , I don't know whom will not see or hear from again

 

 

[bahlol]

الدنمارك ذات الخمسه عشر الف عراقي مؤهل للتصويت سجلت اعلى نسبه من العراقيين المؤهلين للتصويت اذ يقدر نسبه طالبي التسجيل اكثر من ثمانون بالمائه وهي نسبه جيده جدا ولكن من المؤسف ان نرى ان نسبه العراقيين في الاردن لا تتجاوز الخمسه عشر بالمائه وقد اخبرني احد الثقاه هناك من ان الردن حكومه وشعبا يمقتون هذه الانتخابات لانها ستؤثر عليهم والمخابرات الاردنيه تنشر من الاشاعات ما يمنع هؤلاء العراقيون من ممارسه حقهم الانتخابي من خلال نشر احاديث من انهم سوف يرحلوا خارج الحدود وكما اخبري ذات الشخص من ان صاحب العمل الذي يعمل عنده قد اخبره من انه لو ذهب الى مركز التسجيل فا نذلك يعني طرده من العمل وللابد هكذا هي العروبه والديمقراطيه والا فلا

[Guest Guest_mutergem]

Translating Bahlol's

 

In Denemark more than 85% of elligable voters had registered. Unfortunely, in Jordan about 10-15% did it.. Some friend in Jordan told me that most of Iraqis were under severe presure as rummers spreaded that the Jordanian security Mukhabarat will trace voters and expell them.. Others told me that some employers had threathened thier Iraqi employee of fire them out.. Need to mention that most of Iraqis in Jordan are illegally working in Jordan and have no working undertable.

[Guest Guest_salim]

Got this through email.. Wanted to share with you

 

So far the turnout appears to be more than 280 thousands or at 20% - 25% based on some non official estimates of eligible voters outside Iraq. This is a great sign. Imagine if Americans are required to travel several hours to register, then a week later they have to travel several hours again to vote, the turnout would not exceed 10%.

 

Of course, the turnout inside Iraq needs to exceed 50% to make this election relevant. I am optimistic that it will.

 

The actual US turnout rates in the 2004 General elections (one of the highest in history) is

 

Entire US: 60.8%

 

Michigan: 66.9%

 

California: 58.6%

 

 

 

And in the 2000 General Elections is

 

Entire US: 55.3%

 

Michigan: 60.5%

 

California: 56.6%

 

 

 

We  plan to have a big celebration  after the vote on Saturday. This is going to be a great day in Iraq history. I am confident that those who will miss it will reflect back in a few years and regret that they missed this historic event.

[Guest Guest_salim]

I got this through email.. a story of brave Iraqi voter, who needed to go through three ellection centers asking for his right center, accompained by Mom, walked for more than three miles in the hot discret of Alkhadra in Baghdad. While marching to freedom, he had to face a suicide incident at the gate of a hospital, something that the media might missed.

Need to translate a great piece of art!

 

منذ مساء الامس نهار اليوم لم يتوقف صوت الانفجارات والاطلاقات الناريه  كانه تاكيد للتهديدات التي اطلت والرافضه لاجراء الانتخابات العراقيه ولكننا في الحقيقه كنا نتوقع الاسوا من ذلك .. المهم حل الصباح ومنذ السابعه كان هناك دوي انفجار ضخم هز المنزل جلسنا صباحا وكنا ننوي الذهاب بعد الساعه العاشره واتصل بي جاري ابو سيف يسالني ان نذهب سويه ووافقته على ذلك ثم اخبرني انه سال وكيل الغذائيه واخبره ان اسماءنا مسجله في مدرسة الاندلس وهي تبعد حوالي كيلومتر ونصف عن منزلنا

وعند الساعه العاشره  اعتذر جاري ابو سيف عن الحضر بسبب وعكه صحيه اصابته وجاءني ابنه سيف ومعه والدته وتفاجات بوالدته التي كانت ترفض المجيء قبل يوم بسبب الخوف ليس اكثر لكنها بدت مصره على الذهاب وانطلقنا برعاية الله انا ووالدتي وسيف وام سيف وعبرنا الى الطرف الثاني الذي فيه مدرسة الاندلس وتفصلنا منطقه ترابيه مرتفعه تمر فيها سكه حديديه ونحن نسير نسمع اصوات الرصاص من هنا وهناك واصوات الهاون والقاذفه المتفرقه اضافه الى الطائرات الهوليكوبتر والاباشي التي تطير فوقنا وبشكل منخفض كاننا نسير في مواقع قريبه لجبهات القتال ونحن نسير واذا بانفجار هائل يهز الارض تحتنا وقفنا للحظه ليس اكثر ثم واصلنا المسير فاخبرني سيف انظر انه هناك باتجاه بيت وزير العدل فسالته هل هو قذيفة هاون قال كلا لانه صوت واحد لو كان هاون لسمعنا صوتان صوت الانطلاق وصوت السقوط واستمرينا بالمسير واصوات الاطلاقات مستمره ولااعلم من اين لنا بكل هذه القوه فقد كنا نسير وكان شيء لم يكن (سبحان الله هو القوي) كنا نسير ومن هناك مرت قافله للحرس الوطني وبضمنها سياره هامر امريكيه وبدا جنود الحرس الوطني يلوحون لنا بالسلام ويزمرون بهورنات سياراتهم  وكذلك الجندي الامريكي رفع يديه وهو يقول هلو ( علواهس)

حتى وصلنا مدرسة الاندلس لكن لم تكن هناك حواجز كونكريتيه ولكن هناك عدد لاباس به من الحرس والشرطه منتشرين في شتى انحاء المنطقه ويغلقون جميع الافرع وعندما سالناهم قالوا اعذرونا اسماؤكم ليست هنا والسبب ان هناك تغييرات حصلت كان من المفروض ان تكون اسماؤنا مسجله في مدرسة الميسلون القريبه من منزلنا ولكن بسبب تعرضها للقصف تم التحول الى مواقع اخرى فاخبرنا ان نذهب الى مدرسة الطليعه والتي تبعد كيلومتر عن موقعنا الحالي الامر بدا سهلا لي ولسيف ولكنه صعب للحاجه والدتي ولام سيف فصحتهما للتتحمل كل هذا المسير وبدات الوالدة تصرخ بهم بعد كل هذه المعاناة تريدوننا ان نمشي مرة اخرى فاعتذر الشباب وبكل اسف وهم يقولون اعذرونا ياحاجه هذه تعليمات .. المهم توجهنا الى الطليعه وكان منظرا رائعا بدات حركة الناس بالتوجه باتجاه المراكز بشكل مثير جدا عوائل صغار وكبار وحتى اطفال ومعوقين ذكرني ذلك بزيارة الامام الحين (ع) في الاربعينيه

ولكن الفرق في الزياره التوجه باتجاه واحد فقط اما اليوم فالاتجاهات مختلفه حسب المراكز وبشكل فعلا مفرح ورغم ان مناطقنا تسكنها اغلبيه سنيه الا ان ذلك لم يمنع التوجه الى مراكز الانتخاب بل اني اجزم انه قد كانت هناك مشاركه لاباس بها من الاخوه السنه بالتاكيد ولم يردعهم شيء من التهديدات

وصلنا مدرسة الطليعه وبعد التاكد تبين اننا لم نسجل هنا كذلك ولكننا مسجلون في مدرسة الغفران التي تبعد حوالي نصف كيلو عن موقعنا الحالي وتوجهنا هناك حتى وصلنا وتاكدنا من وجود اسماؤنا والحمد لله قمنا بالانتخاب وسط اجواء جميله ومريحه لقد كان شعور رائع ان تشعر بان لك يد في بناء العراق الجديد من خلال هذه الانتخابات وعند عودتنا الى المنزل صادف مرورنا قرب مستشفى الشفاء التي هي بجوار منزل وزير العدل وراينا جام المستشفى كله مهشم واثار الحطام قربها بالاضافه الى اشلاء اللحم البشري المنتشره وعند سؤالنا لحرس المستشفى اخبرونا بان انتحاريا رمته سياره قرب المستشفى من خلال احد الفروع واقترب من باب المستشفى مدعيا انه يريد السؤال عن اقرب مركز انتخابي ثم انفجر مسببا جرح ثلاثة حراس زائدا جروح خطيره لشخص مستطرق ( تلرى أي مرحله من الافلاس السياسي وصلها هؤلاء القتله حتى يفجروا سمهم بالقرب من مستشفى) ولكن الذي لفت انتباهنا انه في الساعه  الحاديه عشره توقف كل اطلاق النار كان الجهات الارهابيه وصلت الى مرحلة الياس من كل محاولاتها الفاشله المهم وصلنا منزلنا سالمين والحمد لله وعندها اتصلت بخالي ابو علي وهو يسكن في البلديات ورغم التحديات الصعبه هناك بسبب كثافة القصف لقرب القاعده الامريكيه منهم ( الامن العامه سابقا )الا انهم تحدوا ذلك شانهم شان الكثير من العراقيين وكان فرح جدا وهو يقول تعال هنا لترى فرحتنا فالمحلات بدات تفتح ابوابها والشباب يلعبون الكره وكان فجرا جديد قد بدا فعلا

اتصلت بصديقي فراس  وهو يسكن في الكاظميه فسالته اخباركم ؟  فاجاب ( تعال وشوف كانما اليوم زياره كبيره في الكاظميه الحركه عاليه وبدون توقف والفرحه تتلالا في اعين الناس وقد سمعنا من جامع ابو حنيفه نداء للناس بالتوجه للانتخابات للادلاء باصواتهم

 

 

 

 

Since yesterday afternoon, the shelling and the explosions never stoped, as if to emophazise the threating  to voters, indeed we were expecting worse than that. any how in the morning, around seven there was a huge explosion near by to my house, we waked up and decided to go after ten morning. My neighbor Abo ASaif called me asking if we can go together, he told me that the food stamp agent told him that we were rigistered at the Andulus school which is about 1.5 killometer away from home. We need to walk  to it.

Around ten , Abo Saif called saying that he might not able to come as he feel very bad. However his son and his wife drop by asking us to join.. It was suprise as the wife was very friegthened to go the day before.

We started marching , me , my Mom and the two., we have to cross the railway dusty way to the other side  to reach the school. While walking we were hearing the explosions and shots, also the hillicopters and the abachee hovering near over . As if we are in battel field

Then a huge explosion that shake the ground under us. After a while we persue, Saif pointed me to the explosing and told me that this is a suicider, becuase morter has two sounds one when hit the ground and the other after .I don't know from where we had such power to continue walking.

Then we ran into a national army unit and another American Hamvy, the soldiers wave to us and also the American who shout "Hello". When we arrived the school, there was no concrete barriers, but some policemaen and soldiers, when we asked them, they informed us that there were some changes and our names were supposed to be  at Maisalon school, which is nearby to our home, but because it was hit, our names were moved to some other center and might better check with Altalia school center which is one killometer away from our place... It was fine with me and Saif to walk to it, but not for my MOm and Saif Mom.. My Mom started to yeil and scream at them. They were calm and show their appology.

Any how we marched toward AlTalia center, it was amazing the scene over there,  so many people were marching too toward the center, families , kids even handicapped, I remembered the Zyra of Alarbaen in Kerbala.. The difference is that in Zyara, all people walk in one dirrection, here different directions, every one toward his center.. I was very pleased that I found so many people going, as our discret is a Sunni Arab one, I saw a lot of my brother Sunni's going, they didn't be intemidated by the terrorists

After reaching Altalia center, and after checking, It was clear that our names are at Alghufran school which just halk killometer away, we went there and had finally voted in a very pleasant atmosphere. It was great to feel that you have a say in Iraq rebuilding.

While marching back, we pass by the Shafa Hospital which beside the Minister of Justice house, we found the debre of Glass and human fleshs , it was the suicider that Saif had expected.. This foolish criminal exploded himself on the Hospital doos, he might thought it is a center, three guard med and one civilian were wounded

 

What I noticed that around elleven, the explosions almost stopped.. A friend called me , saying come to my discret , things become normal , kids are playing football on the street. Same in Kadimia.

[Guest Guest_salim]

http://www.iraqoftomorrow.org/viewarticle....=29094&pg=index

 

In Arabic,, Iraqi Balkees hasan, writing for history here day of voting , out side the country though!

[Guest Guest_salim]

http://www.aljeeran.net/viewarticle.php?id...pg=index&art=mp

 

In Arabic.. long report about the ellections .. A couble chose to have their wedding on the same day.

much more ..Amazing

[Guest Aliraq]

From my friend Mohammed

 

Hi all,

 

I feel like have to write to you all about what happened at Binook District in Baghdad during the election day of January 30, 2005.

 

Two nights before election the National Guard took over the school next to our house. People said that it gonna be an election center. Some neighbors were happy because they will be able to elect in no time, others were scared because the school will be a target for terrorist and their blind shells.

Anyway, we didn't leave home -some neighbors did- and thank God for that. During the two nights after that, the guards were shooting bullets all night (like few every 10-15 minutes), first we thought it was a terrorist attack,

but then we found it's only a procedure might be to tell anybody wants to do something bad, that they are awake and alert. For me it was hard to convince my mother that all noise is a slamming door or window (nobody slam doors all

night .

 

The day before the election, I took our car to a friend garage -50m from home- just in case of emergency, and I was sure that our street will be blocked with concrete (didn't happen anyway). My father was really keen to elect, but in his quite way. His heavy flu didn't let him to decide firmly.

My mother was afraid because some -volunteers- her friends were telling her about the terrorists intentions on the internet. My friends wanted to go in groups, so I was invited to go with a friend and his wife at 9am (H.R.). By the way, we checked for our election center, and found that ours is about 400m away from home, and not the one next. It depends on the food portion agent (WAKEEL).

 

I woke up at 8:30 on the 30th, ate a fast breakfast. My mother was awake too. She was confused, couldn't stop me (against her belief), and couldn't encourage me because of her fears. I left at 9:10am to my friend's house. He was just leaving with his wife, so we went to I3tizaz intermediate school our election center). Next road wasn't busy, but suddenly when we were closer to the center, the road was crazy busy. I remembered Eid during 70's when we had our last happy days in Iraq, but yesterday was without

cars.

Imagine women more than men, old more than young, many young holding their old fellows hands. It was a seen you want to remember all your life. All my friends were with their wives, it was like Eid you spend with Family.

On the way I remembered all the friends lost their lives in stupid wars, executed for political reasons, or died overseas weeping on Iraq. That was their moment. The day for Mohammed Nasir, Maan Al-Hafudh, Hussein Al-Allaq, Hadi,

Abla, Adel Jazool, and millions more. I challenge anybody say that Iraqis don't deserve democracy to come yesterday and look to the greatest nation on earth and how they behave freely in a civilized way any nation would be jealous of. These were my people and my pride in them will never be shaken.

 

On my way back, we met a neighbor (K. Al-Ani) walking with stick with his son and 2 friends. This guy was the last I expect to vote. He was sick for the last few years and could not go further the mosque (50m from his house) for a long while. H.R. said to his son (Mohammed) "come on,

Carry your father", Mohammed replied "I wanted to, but he said I carry you instead", their friend said "Abu Zaid think that they give wives at the election center". Everybody was greeting, congratulating, joking with everybody else. It felt really like Eid, but pre-Saddam version.

 

I went back home with H.R. to escort my parents. Arrived home and told my parents who was on the way and the number of people over there. Suddenly my father who was coughing all night and hardly walking because of cold said to my mother "Let's go" and with a smile of a young healthy guy. They were ready in 5 minutes and went all back to the center; he didn't come back home, but visited 2 of his friends on his way back home. I think freedom and dignity is a cure for many diseases.

 

Regardless to say that Al-Binook district is a mixed ethnicity, mixed religions. We have a church in Binook before a Sunni Mosque, and I don't know about Shiit mosque. I have met all kind of people on the way. It was a shame to mention a religion, Mathhab, or Ethnicity yesterday. Only

friendly joke, like calling Kurdish "hay 130", and that was the main Kurdish list, or some telling the old communist "haah back to roots???" implying the Communist Party list. It was really fun. any old friend will understand me when I

say "PRE-SADDAM EID ATMOSPHERE".

 

I am not worried about Iraq anymore, and please don't be. This country is the first civilization and will be the last. Even God was proud of Iraqis yesterday, and this happiness is a gift I wanted to share with all friends overseas. There are many other events I heard about or saw, and will try to write later.

 

Thanks for reading my boring emails and wish you all the best because we are the best.

 

From happy Mohammed in Happy Baghdad

[Guest Guest_Tajer]

http://www.daralhayat.com/arab_news/levant...c74d/story.html

In Arabic

A very intersting story from inside a voting center where a suicider hits..

Amazing stories about how people kept move on after a moment of collecting the debre and the human remains of those got killed.

A women who was shocked by it , return back to bring her Mom who was not thinking of voting, but change her mind after hearing about the bombing on the center

[Guest Abo Husain]

يوم الحريه

 

عند وصولي الى مدرسة الاندلس في يوم الانتخاب اخبرني احد حرس الباب انه في صباح اليوم ذاته كان هناك ارهابي عربي يحمل شريط ناسف حاول الوصول الى عمق الانتخاب ولكن احد ابطال الشرطه شك في امره وهو احس بذلك وهاجمه الشرطي مما اجبره على تفجير نفسه قبل الوصول الى تجمع المنتخبين واللطيف في الموضوع ان المنتخبين زادوا بعد رؤية هذا الحادث رحم الله شرطينا البطل

 

وفي مدرسة الطليعه والتي جرت فيها الانتخابات كانت هناك حادثة تفجير قبل يوم بالقرب منها الا انه من اللافت للانظار ان المنتخبين زادوا بعد الحادث

 

عند حلول الظهيره في يوم الانتخاب او (يوم الحريه ) كما يحلو للبعض تسميته اخبرني جاري ابو سيف انه ذهب للانتخاب بعد الثايه عشره ظهرا رغم تدهور صحته فسالته لماذا كل هذا الاصرار وانت مريض فقال ( يااخي ماعرف كمت الوج احس ناقصني شي وراح يفوتني كل شي اذا ماانتخبت) واخبرني عن الحادثة الحقيره التي جرت في مركز انتخابي بالقرب من سوق الاسكان حينما استخدم الارهابيون شخص معوق منغولي مسكين والبسوه حزام ناسف وكذلك حملوه بكميه كبيره من المسامير الكونكريتيه (انظر البشاعه ) حتى يسبب الانفجار انتشار المسامير في اجسام الناخبين وكان ذلك واضحا من خلال جثث احد الضحايا ويدعى ( نعيم السماك ) وهو رجل بسيط يملك عربانه لبيع السمك في سوق الاسكان فقدكان جسم هذا الشهيد مشبعا بالمسامير المغروسه فيه اضافه الى عدد اخر من الشهداء

ام علي امراه بسيطه تسكن في منطة الدوره مع زوجها واربعة ابناء كتب تهديد على باب دارها (او ذهبتم للانتخابات فسوف نقوم بنسف منزلكم) المسكينه خافت على اولادها الصغار وبقيت في المنزل ولم تنتخب لكنها بكت بكاء حارقا وهي تقول فاتتني تلك الفرصه

 

احلى ماسمعته يقال قبل يوم من الانتخابات هو ماقاله مواطن عراقي بسيط عندما سال عبر قناة الحره الاتخاف من الارهابيين في يوم الانتخاب فاجاب( لازم اروح وانتخب حتى لو واضع بطاقة الانتخاب بالصندوق حتى لو عرفت انه الصندوق الانتخابي مفخخ

حتى اطفالنا الصغار منذ صباح الاحد وهم يقولون (ها شوكت تروحون للانتخابات )

 

 

كانت هناك ظاهره واضحه في عموم بغداد في يوم الحريه وهي ان اصوات الانفجارات والرمي توقف معظمه عند الساعه الحاديه عشره وبشكل يثير الاستغراب ومن اللافت للنظر اننا سمعنا من بعض الاصدقاء ان مايسمى بهيئة العلماء المسلمين كانت قد وجهت نداء بصوره غير مباشره عن طيق اعوانهم للسنه بان يتظاهروا بعدم المشاركه ولكن طلبوا منهم ان يذهبوا للانتخاب بعد الساعه الثانيه عشره ظهرا نحن نتساءل هنا .. هل هناك ربط بين التوقيتين

 

من خلال منبر بغدادي نطلب من الحكومه العراقيه المنتخبه ان تجعل يوم الانتخابات من كل عام هو يوم الحريه وان يشيد تماثيل للشهداء الذين سقطوا في مثل هذا اليوم ويكتب عليهم شهداء الحريه

 

The freedom day

When I arrived to Alandulus School on the voting day, one of the guards told me that there was an Arab terrorist who was trying to reach the inside, but a brave policeman attacked him , then the terrorist explode him self and the killed the policeman. The police man was so brave.. The voters queue was lenghted after that.

Around noon time, my neighbor Abo Saif, came and told me that he will go though he was feeling very bad, I tried to block him , as he was very sick. He refused saying " I feeling that something big I will miss if failed to go".. He told me about the case in Aleskan center, were the terrorists used a retarted young boy to remotely explod him in the voters with nails .. One of those got killed is a poor man called "Naem alsamak" who used to sell fishs in the Aleskan Market.. His body was full of nails

 

Um Ali  lived in Aldoora, the terrorist threatend her and kids if she go, she didn't. When I saw her later, she was crying badly saying I missed it..

A lovely say by a friend who goes " I will go even they put bomb in the voting box"

 

Even kids started asking from morning , when we will go?

I would like from baghdadee to ask our governement to set a statue for the brave policemean

and to make the 30th of jan as a national day

[Guest Guest_safaa]

I got this by email from my elder brother.. He is a 60 years old Iraqi who was liberated last Sunday.. It is amazing story of fear and courage .. Need to be translated

 

الأخ العزيز أبو علي

تحيه أخويه

مكانك خالي لان ما أراه واشعر به في هذه اللحظات أو في هذا اليوم لا يمكن نسيانه أبدا انه يوم من أروع الأيام مهما حاولت إن أصفه لك لا يمكن إن اصف جزء منه إن اليوم ومن الليل حيث أصوات المتفجرات والرصاص يللعع بكثافة في الليل وفي الصباح

ومن الفجر حتى الصباح أصوات انفجارات ومن مختلف الاتجاهات وبقيت حائرا كيف سيكون يوم الانتخاب هل من الممكن الخروج في مثل هذا اليوم وبقي الصراع عنيفا في داخلي وفي الساعة التاسعة والنصف صممت واتخذت قرارا واحدا وهو الذهاب إلى الانتخابات مهما حصل وهل حياتي شيا اتجاه العراق سوف انتخب مهما حصل وذهبت إلى أبو احمد جيراني وقلت له سوف اذهب إلى الانتخابات وقال أنا أتي معك وسرنا وحدنا في الشارع وعند الفرع الذي بجانبنا أصبحنا أكثر والغريبة انه كنا نسير بدون إن نتكلم ولكن كنا على إصرار واحد عزم واحد وكنا نسير مثل المشي العسكري ولا يهمنا الرصاص أو الهاونات وعند الفرع إلى المدرسة موقع الانتخابات حصلت ألمفاجئه هناك أفواج من البشر ساروا إلى الانتخابات يتبعه عزيمة شباب والشابات وشيوخ حتى الكبار في السن على عربات يدفعونهم وعيونهم نحو ألمدرسه

شعور لا يمكن وصفه أبدا تصور اشعر أني ولدت من جديد وكنت قبل قليل اعتقد أني الوحيد الذي سوف اذهب إلى الانتخابات ولكن كل هذه الحشود والشعور لا يمكن وصفه وفي موقع الانتخاب ترى في الناس فرحين مستبشرين تقرا كل ذلك في عيونهم وحركاتهم والشيء البديع انه الشيعي بجانب السني والسني بجانب الكردي بجانب المسيحي الكل يريد الانتخاب ودارة في الذاكرة عدة أعوام إلى الوراء عند الانتخابات في النظام السابق ترى الرعب و الكراهية والحقد في عيون الناس المكرهين على الانتخابات ولكن في هذه الانتخابات شيء مختلف تماما في هذه الانتخابات الوقت الذي قضيته أكثر من ساعتين ونصف وأنا واقف في طابور طويل حتى جاء دوري في التصويت والنكات والضحك والمزاح الكل على هذه الشاكلة رغم إن الناس يتوقعون سقوط صاروخ أو هاون أو إطلاق رصاص أو سيارة مفخخة ورغم سماع أصوات الانفجارات ولكن الناس مصممون وأنا واحد منهم حتى الموت مصممون على الانتخاب على عراق جديد لا أستطيع إن اصف لك الشعور في هذه اللحظات وأنت تتوقع الشهادة أو الاصابه أو الحياة السعيدة شعور غريب لم اشعر به طول حياتي لم اشعر به طوال ستين عاما  حبيبي (مكانك خالي لان هذا يوم ولا كل يوم ) سلامي وحبي

[Guest Guest_Mutergem]

Translating the above letter from Iraqi inside Iraq talking about the great day

 

What I feel this moment or that day is  unforgetable, it is one of my best days, I can't discribe it all. Late night before the ellection, there was a heavy explosions all the over the night till morniong. I was wondering if I can go voting. That was the case till 9:30 , when I finally decided to go  what ever the consequences. Is it my life more important than Iraq?

I passed by my neighbor Abo Ahmed, he immediately decided to accompany me. We walked on our street alone, but kater when we arrived the crossing, there were some other people walking in same direction

The strange is that we were walking very without talking with one decision as marching in the Army not caring of morters and explosions. When we arrived to the center street, we were surprised by the crowd of voters, they were all marching in same direction. Youth and elderly on a hand driven crats> A feeling that I can't express, as if I newly born, I was thinking that I am the only .. I found a lot of my neighbors and friends, Sunni, Shia, Chrestian, Kurds ..All are very happy.. I remember those days when we were aught to go for Saddam's YES voting.. We spent two hours and half before reaching the box. We were laughting and dancing, while expecting a motor shell any time. But our will was more than our fear.. A strang feeling that I can't explain.. I wanted to vote for Iraq!

[Guest Mustefser]

Comment by Bahlol on other post, I found it related to this post.

Menshing some of his experiences as ellection worker..He is asking to have a certain remembrance day for policeman AbdulAmeer who sacrified himself in pushing away one of the robot suiciders.

He is asking to produce a movie about it..

ادناه مقال بهلول في عمود اخر, وجدته مناسبا للنشر تحت هدا العمود

 

من المشاهدات التي لامستها من خلال عملي كمسجل في عمليه تسجيل الانتخاب وجدت ان الغالبيه العظمى من الناخبين لهم من الحماس والحس الوطني ما يجعل الفرد العراقي يشعر بالفخر والزهو لانه من بلد اسمه العراق وقد ظهرت حقيقه العراقين الاصيله من خلال تلك الممارسه فمثلا مان قد جاء احد المسنين وكان من مواليد 1912 وهو يتعكز على احد احفاده وكان الجو باردا جدا وطابور الوقوف اطول مما يتحمله الرجل الا انه اصرالا ان يشارك بصوته ومما اشترك به العراقيون كقاسم مشترك هو بكاء ودموع النساء والرجال كصفه يشتركون بها على حد سواء وخصوصا عند استلامهم ورقه الانتخاب واشد ما شاهدت كانت حاله سيده وقوره تمسح ورقه الانتخاب بدموعها قبل ان ترميها وتصرخ بدم اولادها السبعه ليغمى عليها بعد ان وضعت الورقه في الصندوق .

ولكن يبقى مشهد رجل من مدينه الصدرببغداد يصطحب كفنه الى قاعه الانتخابات كان كفيلا للايحاء بان ممارسه هذه العمليه ما هي الا نوعا من تحدي الموت الذي حاول الارهابيون من خلاله ايقاف مسيره الحياه بالعراق الابي وكان الكفن خير تعبير عن التحدي والمواصله , ولكن يبقى الاهم والاكثر ايثارا هو موقف الشهيد البطل عبد الامير كاظم ذلك الشرطي الذي كلف بحمايه مركزا انتخابيا في منطقه الاسكان ببغداد وقد انتبه لحركه غير امنه من قبل احدهم لمحاوله تفجير يحصد من خلالها ارواح كثيرون مما دعاه الى تقديم نفسه فداء للعراقيين و لمستقبل العراق حينما احتضن ذلك الشخص محاولا ابعاده عن المواطنين حيث انفجر الاثنان في وقت واحد ليرسم بذلك صوره رائعه من التضحيه تستحق لان تكون فلما روائيا يمجد المعدن العراقي الاصيل ناهيك عن تمثال بقام له في موقع الحدث او في اهم ميدان بالعراق ليحكي للاجيال القادمه قصه هذا البطل. 

[Guest mustefser]

http://www.iraqoftomorrow.org/viewarticle....=29182&pg=index

 

In Arabic.. Another Iraqi that sacrified him self . Albahadlee in Hay Alamel/Baghdad noticed a Sudanees terrorist trying to get into a voting crowd, immediately he hold him and run.. The criminal explode him self ..

Need a statue for Albahadlee

[Guest Johne]

Thank you all for such wounderfully sharing your heart felt experiences, I know freedom is great experience for all people, but it can be costly too maintain (but the cost, at any price is worth it!). As an American, I sometime fail to appreacate the freedoms I have and enjoy. Today, many Iraqi can feel is the joy of taking that first step, with pride and happiness in youselfs and your new nation. You can not believe, how wounderful freedom is until you taste it yourselves. Bless all of Iraqai citizens, may freedom ring long into the future!

 

As an American, I am Sorry, that so much blood had to be shead by all sides. Hopefully, after over comming ones own fears and threat of imminent attack on you and/or your family and casting your vote, maybe the Iraqi citiens can better understand why Americans so love the individual freedom that democracy offers mankind.

 

America and other nations help open that door (rightly or wrongly), but it must be the Iraqi that must decide your countries future. Yesterday was but the first step in Nation building, hopefully all Iraqi will choice a democratic form a govenment. Forgive me for saying a truism (history proven), A Democracy from of government is only as strong as it's "Constitution" which is the next challange for the Iraqi people to draft and approve. Note: A quality Govenment is NOT one that gives the Power too It's People, but It's The People That Gives The Power Too the Government To Goven!

 

I hope and recommend that Iraq will not use America's form of govenment as that which can work in Iraq, but use it only as a basis for new Idea's in drafting your own Constitution. Once a Nation Draft a Constitution "Get It Right The First Time" and Set It In Stone (make it hard to amend-simular to our own). It's important, if you allow me to offer my idea's that-Part of the Constitution must include the "Peoples Bill Of Rights" establishing the individual Rights and Freedom which all Laws must be based and governed by. Without a Bill Of Rights, politicans can pass Laws that take away the peoples rights and the Courts will have no basis to rule them unconstitutional, not enforceable and people end up under a new oppressive government. Sorry, I am lecturing, please forgive me! In any event, I praise the people for a job well done, and hope the future give all Iraqi people the freedom and opportunity to become the best they can be! God Bless Iraq and the courageous people, may you find peace and happiness in all the year ahead. May Americans and Iraqi be friends hereafter! God Is Great!