Iraq The Vote

First of all, I would like to extend congratulations to the Iraqi people for rocking the vote and showing the world they are ready for democracy. Truthfully, I was not for the war in Iraq, at least at the time we invaded. But that's another story for another time. Today, I understand the historical importance of 70% of 14 million voters expressing their freedoms, despite threats of violence and blood baths. No, I didn't support the war, but I do understand this: now that we are there, we cannot afford to lose. The resounding success of Iraqi Elections is a tremendous victory, but the building of peace and establishing a democratic government is not over.

I read this article about how the Sunni's were boycotting the elections. Now, a Sunni cleric is calling the elections illegitimate because "large number of Sunni's did not participate in the balloting." Please note, the same clerics were urging their followers to boycott.

Ok, so let me get this right... You say the elections are illegitimate because a certain group of minorities didn't turn up at the polls (let's forget you told them not to vote). How's at any different from, say, the youth of America not getting out to vote?

My point is if you want democracy, you have to participate in the process. Your vote counts and if you don't vote, you don't have a voice. Meaning, you can't complain about fairness and not being represented later when you don't participate in the process. If the Sunni's are not well-represented in the Iraq Nation Assembly or regional parliaments, then they only have themselves to blame...