Not Quite A Democracy?

[HARDCORE]

With scheduled elections in Iraq, many are now proclaiming that democracy has finally come to that region!? As a matter of fact, if democracy has indeed taken root in the Land of The Euphates, it is a democracy that didn?t come cheap!

There is somethings about these elections, however, that genuinely puzzles me! Instead of a two major political party system (like here in the United States), Iraq is hosting some 111 political parties in their elections!

Now add to this the fact that there are many Iraqi Expatriots here in the U. S. of A. ( American Citizens they say), who may also be eligible to vote in these Iraqi elections, and some might ask why we too can not vote in foreign elections (as well as our own) - depending upon our ancestry of course? (Hmm!!)

And with but five (5) national polling facilities (Coast to Coast) for Iraqis to cast their votes in, it kind of reminds me of the ?Roman/ Israel of Yore?? A place where, like Jesus, Joseph and Mary, the residents were forces to journey hundreds (if not thousands) of miles from home to register!

And while we are on the subject, can you just imagine if - Hispanic Americans were also allowed to vote in Mexican Elections, French Americans could vote in Froggyland, Americans of English Ancestry were able to cast a ballot for a British Prime Minister, as well as an American President, and so on and so forth!

Are all people with international origins (and that is most of us) still citizens of the nations of their forefathers? Or are they, if they legally arrive upon our shores, Americans one and all (I had always felt that this should be the case)? For if a person, regardless of where their ancestors hailed from, legally settles down here, takes a job in U.S. industry, and enjoys the abundant freedoms and protections of our nation, in my book, they also are bound by our rules, laws and responsibilities! ?We are not a nation of revolving doors, after all, or at least I never though so?!?

Residency in our nation is not an all-expense paid vacation at one of our national parks! One in which any alien can enjoy our blessings and abundance, and then take to their heels when the going gets tough or the tab comes due!

We Americans have to take the bad along with the good (even if we do bitch like hell about it), many of us serve within the U.S. Armed Forces, we all pay taxes, we are expected to obey the laws, we don?t usually pack up and leave when we feel that we have been slighted or we have overstayed our welcome, and we sure as hell don?t vote in foreign elections either! For if the latter were truly the case, then every member of the United Nations in New York City too, would be voting here in our elections as well as their own! "And this, while they are only temporarily shacked-up upon freedom?s shores!"

As far (again) as Iraq becoming a democracy, there is far more to a democracy than just elections! There is also (among other things) the ability to run one?s mouth (within reason), travel freely without fear of violence, the sweat and the tears of trial and error, and most of all - there is a love of one?s nation that transcends election rigging, constant fear, class priviledge, or political retribution!

Most of all, a democracy is akin to one?s first love, as it is something that you court, embrace, protect, and live for. It is not, however, a whim of the moment, something to put the bite on, or something to hide behind when convenient!

?It (democracy) is like a marriage for life, and by God, those who enjoy its blessings don?t just use it, abuse it, and then dump it, as the mood arises!?

VERITAS