Editorial

What if someone threatened to cut off your head - in public, no less - if you went to the polls to vote? Would you risk your life to vote in such an election?

I imagine many of us would not risk our lives to vote under those conditions. Yet that is what more than eight million Iraqi voters did on Sunday, Jan. 30. They went to the polls to vote in the first free election in their country in a long time.

Inspiration to us. Many of them walked for miles over rough roads to go to the polls, despite fear of suicide bombings and mortar attacks. They voted despite the real threats of some insurgents to publicly behead those who voted.

The huge voter turnout in Iraq should be an inspiration to all of us. It shows that the citizens of Iraq do want to exercise their freedom and chart a new course for their country. A strong turnout also gives legitimacy to the new government being established.

First step in process. This election was the first step in a democratic process in Iraq. The voters on Sunday chose a 275-member transitional National Assembly. This assembly will in turn choose a largely ceremonial president and two vice presidents. They will select a prime minister and a Cabinet, which will be ratified by the assembly.

The National Assembly will draft a permanent constitution for Iraq. There will be a national referendum in October to accept or reject this new constitution. If it is approved, the people of Iraq will vote in December for a permanent government to operate under the constitution.

Iraq has made a start on the road to democracy, but there is a long way to go. There may be wrangling among the parties represented in the assembly. Many of the Sunni Arabs - who represent only 34 percent of the population - boycotted the election. They can still cause problems for the majority Shiite Muslims.

Leaders optimistic. Catholic leaders in Iraq are optimistic. A Catholic News Service article reported that Catholics believe a democratic process will benefit the whole country, no matter what group obtains a majority in the transitional assembly. "Christians, like all Iraqis, just want a government, a constitution, and a democracy," the Chaldean Archbishop of Basra said.

All people of good will - no matter how they felt about the U.S. invasion of Iraq - should be encouraged by the democratic strides being made there. Let us hope the Iraqi people continue to prevail in their efforts to establish a free government, control the insurgents and terrorists, and train their own people to keep the peace.

The United States needs to stay in Iraq to make sure the democratic process continues successfully. But our military should get out of Iraq as soon as possible to allow the Iraqi people to take charge. Our humanitarian and business assistance should continue, however.

We can learn some lessons from the courageous people of Iraq. The next time we have an election, we should remember their example and go to the polls. And let us pray for all the citizens of Iraq as they walk on their new path to freedom and democracy.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Less affluent people give the most

To the editor:

When was the last time you paid the most you could possibly pay when shopping? Your answer would probably be never. Not so for some people. Some people are willing to pay the most to get the best. For some reason or another, the affluent often show no respect for the needs of the rest of us.

I believe the latest weather-related disasters prove that the hearts of the American people are in the right place. But who is giving the greatest percentage of the needed funds? I am certain you will find that those giving from the heart are those shopping for the best deal. They are working the hardest. They spend more time in church and in prayer. They are more neighborly and more gracious.

Does our affluent society truly believe the election in November was a moral issue unrelated to our economy? Did they convince enough of us to switch our votes? Rather than a moral victory we experienced a step backward in our economic search for justice in our markets. This is proven in the farmer's market. This is proven in the consumer's market and most noticeably in our social marketplace, where we display the greed shown as we divide the wealth of God's gift of life. Let us see how much we have learned in the next four years.

Glen Rake, Columbus

Thanks for environment editorial

To the editor:

Thank you for the environmental stewardship editorial (Dec. 30, 2004 issue). It is encouraging to see problems other than abortion addressed.

Besides the 10 resolutions, I would add an 11th: Shop first at St. Vincent de Paul or a similar store. Do not replace still usefully functioning items, major or minor, unless the replacement is a significant improvement in efficiency, capacity, or energy consumption.

Remember that anything new requires use of finite resources in its manufacture, transportation, and marketing/retailing.

Karl Andersen, Lake Mills