Whether the Iraqis choose to ratify their Constitution or not, the experience of their referendum will be a monumental success in the gestation of the Iraqi democracy. From the perspective of those in United States or other mature democracies or republics, the right, privilege and responsibility of voting and having real power to bring about change in our government is something we are used to and take for granted. We should recognize that our lifelong experience of the political rights in our Republic is not the experience of all human persons. The experience of finally having a voice and power to bring about a government of their own choosing is a new experience for the Iraqi people. Given their new rights, whether they choose to adopt the new Constitution or not will be a profound experience for a people who never had a efficacious voice before.
The new leaders of Iraq should not lose out on making this point to their citizens. It could be that facts like this could stem the tide against Sunni-Shiite violence deteriorating into civil war. If the Iraqi people reject the Constitution, to the consternation of those Iraqi leaders who have worked for months on it, not to mention the U. S. political leaders working with the transitional authorities, dare I say, this might be the best possible outcome for the fledgling democracy. No lesson could be more powerful than the voice of the people saying 'No' to governmental leaders and seeing what happens when they do. For this would demonstrate the real authority and freedom that self-rule brings.
The ensuing political work of Iraqi leaders coming to compromise and progress toward a new Constitution without the endemic violence that characterized the former rule of Saddam Hussein would galvanize the power of democracy for the Iraqis. The citizens could then see, first-hand, what happens when their own voice speaks en masse against the designs of their own leaders. Instead of dissident or progressive leaders leaders being kidnapped, tortured and killed as they dare to speak against the status quo, Iraqis would see the democratic process work to rectify concerns if the Constitution fails to pass.
This is why the outcome of the Constitutional vote should not be viewed by Americans or Iraqis as a test of their new democracy. The test of the new democracy should be viewed in the numbers of Iraqis that choose to play a part in their government and go out and cast their vote, either yes or no. Ratification of the Constitution is not the test, the test is how many will play a part in choosing. The choice, not the outcome, is the real test for the Iraqis regarding their Constitution and their future experience with self-rule.
(h/t: Wizbang!, Cafe Oregano, bRight & Early, indepundit, Outside The Beltway, StopTheACLU, ThePoliticalTeen )
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