Quote:
. . .Turnout was brisk in Shiite Muslim and mixed Shiite-Sunni neighborhoods. Even in the small town of Askan in the so-called "triangle of death" south of Baghdad, 20 people waited in line at each of several polling centers. More walked toward the polls.
"This is democracy," said Karfia Abbasi, holding up a thumb stained with purple ink to prove she had voted.
Rumors of impending violence were rife. When an unexplained boom sounded near one Baghdad voting station, some women put their hands to their mouths and whispered prayers. Others continued walking calmly to the voting stations. Several shouted in unison: "We have no fear."
"Am I scared? Of course I'm not scared. This is my country," said 50-year-old Fathiya Mohammed, wearing a head-to-toe abaya.
At one polling place in Baghdad, soldiers and voters joined hands in a dance, and in Baqouba, voters jumped and clapped to celebrate the historic day. At another, an Iraqi policeman in a black ski mask tucked his assault rifle under one arm and took the hand of an elderly blind woman, guiding her to the polls.
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This is meaningless?
I don't know why you loons don't want to help these people in their transition from death and oppression to freedom and self-determination. You're ready to cry tyranny over Bush and Cheney because you don't feel your voice is being heard - do Arabs just not deserve the same? Is it racisism? Is it religious? Are you just that selfish?