The blogosphere is ripe today, a ready and eager witness to the birth of self-determination and freedom in Iraq.

As usual, there is a good roundup of posts from all sides of the political spectrum over here at
The Command Post.

It's the Iraqi bloggers themselves who made the biggest impact on my perception of this historic day.

From Iraq the Model

The media is reporting only explosions and suicide attacks that killed and injured many Iraqis s far but this hasn't stopped the Iraqis from marching towards their voting stations with more determination. Iraqis have truly raced the sun.

I walked forward to my station, cast my vote and then headed to the box, where I wanted to stand as long as I could, then I moved to mark my finger with ink, I dipped it deep as if I was poking the eyes of all the world's tyrants.
I put the paper in the box and with it, there were tears that I couldn't hold; I was trembling with joy and I felt like I wanted to hug the box but the supervisor smiled at me and said "brother, would you please move ahead, the people are waiting for their turn".

Yes brothers, proceed and fill the box!

From Democracy in Iraq

I am happy to report...no I am honored to report that I have cast my ballot in our election. It is such an amazing feeling to be able to have some control over the destiny of my nation, a feeling I have not known before! I was one of the first ones to report to our local voting station, and I placed my vote, my stained finger is proof (The authorities are using such a system to make sure people do not vote twice). I was not the only one to show up at the opening of the voting area, there were at least a dozen other Iraqis waiting to take part in this momentus event, and as I left, I saw tens more file in.

From Free Iraqi

I entered the school and the supervisors showed me the way to were I should vote. They and the ING guys were so polite and gentle. I cast my vote and got out, not in a rush at all. This is my Eid and I felt like a king walking in his own kingdom. I saw the same look of confidence and satisfaction in the eyes of all people I met. As I left one of the gurads said to me as he handed me back my cellular phone,"God bless you and your beloved ones. We don't know how to thank you. Please excuse any inconvinience on our part. We wish we didn't have to search you or limit your freedom. You are heroes" I was struck with surprise and felt ashamed. This man was risking his life all these hours in what has become the ytmost target for all terrorists in Iraq and yet he's apologizing and calling us heroes. I thanked him back and told him that he and his comrads are the true heroes and that we can never be grateful enough for their services.

More Iraqi Bloggers for you to investigate:

Ambassador Fayrouz
AYS
Faiza
Ferid
Free Iraqi
Firas
Friends of Democracy
Husayn
Ibn Al Rafidain
Ibrahim
Iraq Elections Blog
Iraq Files
Iraq Pundit
Khalid
Kurdistan Bloggers Union
Kurdo
Ladybird
Majid
Nabil
Najma
Omar, Ali, and Mohammed
Raed
Raed and the Irani
Riverbend
Rose
Sam
Sami
Sarmad
Zeyad

Posted by Michael at January 30, 2005 10:34 AM