On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 20:19:44 GMT, "Jim," wrote:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...henation/12208

Same place, better story:



Op/Ed - Maggie Gallagher
UExpress
THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

Tue Feb 1, 7:59 PM ET

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By Maggie Gallagher

For a brief moment, can we just celebrate?


Soon enough we'll return to the narrow, dark, arrow-slinging,
testosterone-fueled world of partisans ceaselessly jousting at each other for
minor political advantage.

Right now, for the 1,400 American soldiers who've died to make this possible,
for the millions of Iraqis who just braved death to show up and exercise their
new right to vote, for the sake of the human spirit itself, can we pause a
moment to wonder at an amazing sight: the birth of a new democracy.

Yes, Iraqi democracy is just a baby. Yes, so many questions remain unanswered
that we (and they) will have to return to shortly, including how and when the
new Iraqi nation will be strong enough to defend itself so our boys can come
home.

Let us seize this moment to celebrate with Iraqis their achievement: "People
have been thirsting for these elections, as if it was a wedding," Akil Muslim
told The New York Times. "Najaf is considered the capital of the Shiites, and
because they were oppressed under the old regime, they're turning out for the
elections."

What is democracy, and why is it worth dying for? In part, it's a commitment by
a people to resolve a nation's internal disputes amicably, without recourse to
violence. Because the next election is just around the corner, powerful elites
agree to surrender power in an orderly way, and on a regular basis, in
accordance with fixed rules. "The exercise of democracy is the rule of the
majority," one cleric told The New York Times. "But the Shiites do not rule
anyone out, and we respect the Kurds, Sunnis and others."

When democracy works well, the general course of the nation, if not all its
details, are shaped in response to what the majority of people actually want. A
million heads are better than one at making decisions. "Ayatollah Sistani says
your vote is more valuable than gold," said another man.

And then there is the question of fundamental human dignity. Democracy
transforms every Iraqi from a subject to a citizen.

An 83-year-old bricklayer had trouble, for a moment, explaining to a reporter
why he was standing in long lines to vote: "Under Saddam we were a people who
were lost. Before, we were not able to talk to officials; they were just
punching you, and kicking you. But now, with elections, we'll have good
officials. We will know them, and they will know us."

Let us pause, too, just for a moment to wonder at the sight of a powerful
nation, with more death at its command than human nature ought ever to be
trusted with, using that power (at least today) not to destroy or dominate a
people, but to create a safe space for this new birth.

Do you remember how the Europeans dismissed President Bush (news - web sites)'s
talk of democracy in Iraq (news - web sites)? The less charitable saw it as an
excuse to grab oil, the more charitable as a strictly rhetorical boilerplate for
the masses: "After all is said and done, the Americans will install some sort of
halfway decent government there," the realpolitikers said.

There is legitimate criticism among Americans in both parties who wonder whether
America can afford to spend its blood and treasure abroad on such Wilsonian
dreams. That debate is an important one and will continue. Today is a day to
pause and be proud: proud of being an American, proud of belonging to a country
that can dream such dreams, give such an extraordinary gift.

The Iraqis are celebrating their own achievement, as well they should. For only
tyranny can be imposed by outsiders. Democracy must be created, day by day, by
the people themselves. God bless the people of Iraq.



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John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes