 | |  |
 |
|
|
|
Expatriate
Iraqi Student Votes in First Free Election |
Posted:
02.03.05
|
|
|
After numerous years of collecting cobwebs and dust, the former
Home Quarters building opened its doors for business once again
on January 28. However, this time the building that once helped
families improve their homes now helped expatriate Iraqis improve
the lives of loved ones still living in Iraq.
Printer-friendly version: PDF
|
|
|
|
|
Traveling both near and far, thousands of Iraqis poured into
the building in Southgate, which served as Michigan's only voting
site for the Iraqi election, in order to have the chance to cast
their vote in the historic election that would let their voices
resonate not only throughout the building, but throughout the
world.
 "This
was my first time I ever voted in my life," said senior Zaniab
Al Majedi, a student at Southgate Anderson High School who voted
at the site during the recent elections. "I voted because
I want to help rebuild Iraq and I was very happy to have this
chance (to vote)."
"My two sisters, brother, mother and father all voted too.
My dad is happy that Iraq is having elections. He thinks that
they're a good idea for the country."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out-of-Country
voting |
|
|
|
|
|
The international organization in charge of the elections oversaw
Out-of-Country voting programs in 14 countries. There were five
locations in the United States. Many Iraqis found themselves traveling
great distances to the voting sites, while others, such as Al
Majedi, found history unraveling at their feet.
"I first heard about the elections on the television and
I wished that I could vote," said Al Majedi, who is a resident
of Southgate. "Then, I heard that everyone outside of the
country could vote. I was excited because I just turned 18 and
realized that my voice would be heard."
For those no longer living in Iraq, the elections allowed expatriate
Iraqis to have a say in the development of their homeland and
helped them feel connected despite being thousands of miles away.
"Before being able to vote, I figured that whatever happened
(in Iraq) was not my business. However, when I voted I felt like
an important person, even if I wasn't in Iraq. It felt as if I
were able fly. It was a really nice feeling," said Al Majedi.
"Being able to vote (for Iraqi leaders) is a good thing.
It's a good way to try and make Iraq a good nation after everything
that has happened with Saddam."
|
|
|
|
Choosing
political parties |
|
|
|
|
|
Unlike the elections in the United States, where voters choose
individual candidates for a specific position, voters in the Iraqi
election voted from a list of more than 100 political parties
for the new Iraqi government.
"Since the country is trying to rebuild, we voted for a
group of people to run the country and each person (from the group)
was the representative for a group of people who live in Iraq,
such as the Muslims or Kurds," said Al Majedi. "However,
maybe in the next few years we will be
able to vote for one person to lead Iraq instead of a group of
people."
 Although
some of the voters who made the trip to the polls were skeptical
of the impact their vote would have, Al Majedi remains convinced
that the country's new-found democracy is an important part in
the rehabilitation of Iraq.
"It (democracy) is the first step to putting peace in Iraq,"
said Al Majedi. "It's the first step to helping people forget
all the bad things that have happened to them in the past."
"I feel that democracy will spread throughout the country
because now the people choose the government. They're the ones
making choices and hopefully the new leaders will be able to bring
peace and security to Iraqis."
|
|
|
|
Defying violence |
|
|
|
|
|
Despite the numerous insurgent attacks aimed at sabotaging the
elections, Iraqis were not scared off from taking part in the
landmark election, which came to a close on January 30.
"The insurgents' violence towards the elections have actually
had the opposite effect of what they (the insurgents) were hoping
for. They made people want to go and vote. People wanted to challenge
them," said Al Majedi.
"Iraqis made a statement by showing that they were going
to vote no matter what, even if they died."
With the historic election now in the past, the process of rebuilding
of Iraq will begin as the new leaders settle into office.
"This is just the beginning. The country needs to be rebuilt
step by step," said Al Majedi. "In the near future,
Iraq will hopefully become a rich, successful country where people
are able to live in peace."
--
by Heather Guenther, a journalism student at Southgate Anderson
High School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's important to understand both sides in an election, and I think it will be interesting to hear the Republican opinion on big issues. As a writer, it will be my job to take that perspective and share it with the youth of the country, a crowd that mainly supports Obama.
