Spiro Agnew’s silent majority appear to be alive and well and living in … Iraq!

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - In unexpected calm, millions of Iraqis voted on Saturday in a referendum on a new constitution that is designed to reshape the country after Saddam Hussein but which many fear may tear it further apart.

Insurgents fought gunbattles with Iraqi and U.S. forces in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, but throughout the capital and much of the rest of the country, voting appeared to go smoothly and securely, with polls set to close at 5 p.m. (1400 GMT).

Again, we are privileged to witness to the single way in which ordinary people can assert themselves above the din of al-Jazeera and the rest of the noisy and poisonously inaccurate media; above the din of car bombs and IEDs; above the din of videotaped beheadings, videotaped warnings and jihadist screeds. This is what we’ve always been depending on, and it is truly the core element of this unique war’s strategy: Give an oppressed people the chance, and they will be glad to do the one thing they can do for themselves and for their children’s future. That is, VOTE.

This constitutional referendum has already been a huge success, regardless of outcome. Millions of ordinary Iraqis have chosen to put pieces of paper into ballot boxes in-lieu of either blowing eachother up, or cowering helplessly in their homes.

The only ones cowering today appear to be Michael Moore’s minutemen.

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Addendum:
And from an Iraqi blogger yesterday:

I am so excited but a flashback from Saddam’s referendum three years ago still hurts; he wanted a 100% as the 99.96% of the previous one shocked the dictator. I was depressed that way and I decided not to go to the voting office and so did the rest of the family but my father was afraid that not going could be dangerous.
He said that maybe one member of the family could go alone and cast votes for the rest of us. We looked at each other thinking who’s going to volunteer to do this ugly job to protect the family. At that moment my father said “it was my generation that caused the misery we’re living in so I’m the one who should do this”.
I couldn’t stop him and I couldn’t utter a word but I felt sad for him; his sacrifice was big and I had teary eyes when I watched him taking our papers and heading out.

It is different this time father, no more 100% and a ‘no’ would make me happy just like a ‘yes’ would do and no one ever will force us to do something against our will anymore.
Tomorrow will be another day for Iraqi bravery. May God protect you my people…you have suffered so much and you will still be suffering for some time but I am sure the future will be bright.
God bless you my people and all the freedom lovers who keep sacrificing to make this world a better place.

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