A few days back I did a post on imagining what it would be like to be an Iraqi citizen at this time in their history. Here, courtesy of John Hawkins, is a roundup of observations from Iraqi’s themselves.

Zeyad from Healing Iraq:

“The turnout in Iraq was really like nothing that I had expected. I was glued in front of tv for most of the day. My mother was in tears watching the scenes from all over the country. Iraqis had voted for peace and for a better future, despite the surrounding madness. I sincerely hope this small step would be the start of much bolder ones, and that the minority which insists on enslaving the majority of Iraqis would soon realise that all that they have accomplished till now is in vain.

While that may sound like wishful thinking, the terrorist beheaders have clearly now placed themselves firmly on the wrong side of history here. And with the Coalition continuing to roll up al Zarqawi’s terrorist network, it may be just a matter of time before the jihadists are reduced to sporadic, ineffective, but still bloody suicide attacks with no chance of doing anything except making themselves more hated by the indigenous population.

This from Alaa The Mesopotamian:

“I bow in respect and awe to the men and women of our people who, armed only with faith and hope are going to the polls under the very real threats of being blown to pieces. These are the real braves; not the miserable creatures of hate who are attacking one of the noblest things that has ever happened to us. Have you ever seen anything like this? Iraq will be O.K. with so many brave people, it will certainly O.K.; I can say no more just now; I am just filled with pride and moved beyond words.

So are many of us, Alaa.

Some voters apparently derived immense satisfaction from casting the ballot, seeing it as payback to the murderous thugs who controlled Iraq for more than a quarter of a century:

‘’Now I feel that Saddam is really gone,’’ said Fatima Ibrahim, smiling as she headed home after voting in Irbil, in the Kurdish northern region. She was 14 and a bride of just three months when her husband, father and brother were rounded up in a campaign of ethnic cleansing under Saddam. None have ever been found. (From the AP)

Bagdhad’s mayor, who wants to erect a statue of George Bush in the city, had this to say:

...Baghdad’s mayor was overcome with emotion by the turnout of voters at City Hall, where he said thousands were celebrating.

“I cannot describe what I am seeing. It is incredible. This is a vote for the future, for the children, for the rule of law, for humanity, for love,” Alaa al-Tamimi told Reuters.” (From Wired News)

At Iraq the Model we get an explanation for the name of their sometimes poignant, always informative blog:

I still recall the first group of comments that came to this blog 14 months ago when many of the readers asked “The Model?”...”Model for what?” Take a look today to meet the model of courage and human desire to achieve freedom; people walking across the fire to cast their votes.

Could any model match this one!? Could any bravery match the Iraqis’!? Let the remaining tyrants of the world learn the lesson from this day.”

Recently, I’ve seen a number of “experts” on TV pooh-poohing the idea that the “tyrants of the world” would see this election as anything that could threaten their own hold on power.

If this were so, how come the governments of Syria and Iran have done their damnedest to prevent yesterday’s vote from happening? Do they just enjoy meddling in the affairs of another country? Maybe they like the pictures from al Jezeera of suicide bombers blowing up innocent human beings.

Or maybe they’re scared witless at the prospect of having a functioning, multi-party democracy next door. After all, it just won’t do for their own people to get the silly notion into their heads that the same thing could happen there.

At least Democrats in this country agree with them.

Finally, from Ali at Free Iraq, we hear this:

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 guards 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 inconvenience 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 utmost 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 comrades are the true heroes and that we can never be grateful enough for their services.

Ali’s story brings up something we didn’t hear much of yesterday; the outstanding performance of Iraqi soldiers, police, and national guardsmen. They stood at their posts the entire day knowing that they were targets.

I wonder if Ted Kennedy, Michael Moore, and the rest of the naysayers on Iraq could do the same?