This story really puts things in perspective.
A group of lawmakers recently traveled to Jordan to meet with female Iraqi political candidates. Many of the lawmakers brought campaign paraphernalia along with ideas for these aspiring politicians. They quickly learned that the biggest challenge facing these brave candidates is not how to get the swing vote, but how to avoid getting killed.
The teenage sons of two candidates have been killed in retaliation for the women's political activities. Another candidate was kidnapped and held until her family paid her ransom.
Some have lost their lives and others have been begged by their families to stay out of it.
Under the law setting up the Jan. 30 elections for a national assembly, which was written under American supervision, at least one-third of the candidates on the ballot must be women. That provision has provoked bloody opposition. One female candidate, Wijdan al-Khuzai, was found killed near her Baghdad home in December.
The Iraqi women can run for office without campaigning because most Iraqis will cast votes for political party slates, rather than individual candidates. To protect the candidates, most names on the lists remain secret.
Several Iraqi women told the American lawmakers that their adult children have begged them not to run for office. Granger said that it was "one of the hardest things" to hear. "I have three grown children," Granger added. "I kept asking myself, would I do that if I were in that kind of situation and my children were saying, `Please don't do that'?"
I can't imagine what these women are going through, nor can I personally relate to the courage that they have.
Iraq is a mess thanks to the US occupation, but stories, such as this one, can put a lump in your throat and make you think about how lucky we were to have strong leaders like Jefferson, Adams, Washington, and Madison. These leaders put everything on the line because of what they believed in.
These women should not be overlooked. They are truly courageous.
-mtfriend
www.pacdaily.com
The Pacific Daily