A Star from Mosul

I don't know what to do.. I'm just sitting here, infront of the computer. I've just realized that I've sent a letter to 10 persons (by mistake) and didn't mention what it was all about! So, excuse me if you didn't understand anything..

I've got too many messages the last couple of days, and the number of visitors is getting higher too, although usually, when it's Saturday, few people come because of the week-end. It's weird, and I feel like I have to say some stuff for whoever is coming, probably to see if I voted.

I didn't vote, neither I will. Why? I'm 16, er. Not old enough to vote, I'm taking advantage of my age, always.. And because it's not safe at all :

Elections in Iraq are scheduled for Sunday. Terrorists are busy distributing leaflets, which threaten to kill or maim anyone who votes. One note left at a polling place vowed to wash the streets with voters’ blood...

But officials are still hopeful that 50 percent of eligible voters will show up. Even if 40 percent turn out, that would still be a higher percentage than in many American elections.

It seems Iraqis living abroad are not quite as brave as their brothers and sisters in Iraq are expected to be. Only 10 percent of the eligible Iraqis in this country have registered to vote so far and the turnout worldwide has been far lower than expected.

MSNBC's question of the day (Scroll down to see the results) shows that only 38 percent of people surveyed said they would risk their lives to vote if they were Iraqis. That’s easier said than done, so that number might actually be a lot lower.

Whatever you think about the war effort, it’s an amazing moment in history. Iraqis will literally be risking their lives to have their voices heard, to participate in a form of government some of us just take for granted.

So, what do you think? I'm kind of trying to calm down, I'm feeling guilty for not going.. But, would I really be happy if I voted?

Those marks of freedom, you know about them! Neurotic wife had one.. Here's a good thought about it:

thanks to the stupidity of the election commission, is that the indelible ink on the hands of voters will stay for a few days. So if some terrorist really wants to murder voters he doesn't have to do it on Election Day. He can just wait until the security cordon clears and then "inspect" fingers at random and murder at will.

Now, let's find another excuses.. Well, dad is sick, and we'll have to go to the elections centers (Which are all schools by the way) on foot because of the curfew! And:

Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.
Gore Vidal

And:

Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
Ambrose Bierce

And:

We'd all like to vote for the best man but he's never a candidate.
Kin Hubbard

I wonder why wise men didn't like voting! Search for quotes encouraging us to vote.. They're very few! But the one telling us not to vote are too many that I had to choose which one to put here..

Wow, I guess convincing my self that I'm not guilty is working after all.. But I won't blow it up in the Iraqi faces. For those who can vote, Go And Vote..

So, don't be angry at me.. I have nothing to do with me not voting. (Hehehe, some Kurdish just called on my mobile.. Of course, he dialed the wrong number. He was calling his brother, he asked if everything is okay, and if I needed anything!! Nice move :) Why haven't anybody thought of voting by SMS? That would've been good.

The streets are empty today, as usual.. A police car declaring the names of the school that we can vote in came twice in our street. We can hear explosions in the distance.

I feel like a stupid person, trying to make excuses.. And failing--Maybe, I don't know..

Maybe 4 years from now, I'll go vote. Let's just pray that in 4 years things will be much better that I won't have to go through all this battle again..

Najma
PS: Don't send me messages telling me to vote.. It's not an option, not for me.

(UPDATE: Now I really am jealous.. Grandma, my aunt and my uncle voted today, they're all in Baghdad so it was easier for them..)