Well, I've been thinking of the referendum and the voting issue since yesterday. I could email any of my friends and talk about it, but I finally decided to write it here. I don't want to make anyone dizzy with what's in my mind. I was wondering why some people are with the constitution and why some others are against it. For me, I'm not with and not against! I don't know how, but I feel indifferent about it.. as it is the same for me about politics.
I admit that I didn't read the draft as many Iraqis didn't read it. And if you want the truth, I have no clue about its contents. Maybe it's because I lost hope in this government..... NO, NO, NO, I didn't have any glimpse of hope in it since the begining, I didn't even vote for it during the elections in January, I chose another list in that time.
We, people in Iraq, heard many stories saying that this constitution is already determined whether we voted for or against it.... And many stories like these! I asked this question "Why yes, and why no?" Here are some answers: Yes cuz we want to settle down. Yes cuz we don't want to re-live the passed year with it's bad circumstances. Yes cuz we don't want to the American troops to stay for another year. Yes cuz it's already pre-determined, so there is no use of saying no. No cuz the sinna didn't participate in it. No cuz it is made under the occupation. No cuz it is not a good constitution. No cuz of the federalism part in it and other points which are not good. Yes yes yes, and No no no... and many other reasons. I collected those reasons from different people, family and friends.
I had an arguement with blueman about the whole issue today. We talked about politics. Being from different sects, we didn't agree on each other's points of view. He said " I want this constitution to fail cuz I want to laugh at the government for its great faliure and false promises". I had my daily tour in the Iraqi blogs and the non-Iraqi blogs which talk about Iraq. All of those blogs are talking about the constitution. And I noticed that most of the Iraqi bloggers voted "No". I liked Zeyad's post about it, only three words! " I voted against".
As a matter of fact, the news were kinda astonishing today; knowing that so many people voted against the constitution. This wasn't expected at all, at least in my mind. I thought that many people would vote for it after all the hard work of advertising for it! You can clearly see the advertisements of futureiraq.org filling the streets of Baghdad and the other Iraqi cities, all saying yes for the constitution. We still don't know the final results yet though.
I don't know what else I should say, but I know that I still didn't get it out of my mind. So in your opinion, why is it yes? and why is it no?
Another question! Supposing that this constitution failed, and now there are other processes to make a new referendum. What makes us think that this other constitution will be better than the first one although it is established under the same circumstances?! I don't believe that things will be any better next year.
I hope I didn't make you dizzy with the ramblings of my mind. Thank you for reading, and hope to read your comments.
Good Night
19 comments:
well as my best friend said:
"I encouraged people to vote NO for a simple reason:
the guys in the referendum are set up for life, 5000$ a month for all their lives, so, if we fail this consitution, they'd have to elect another group, then we fail that one, and the next, and the next, until WE -me and him- are chosen, and after that? may the flood engulf us all, we've got money, nothing else matters.."
tempting indeed!
:) left a comment at ur sis, read that she be coming to my college some time next year, won't u come along?
-Nahrain University-
salam!
"We, people in Iraq, heard many stories saying that this constitution is already determined whether we voted for or against it..."
haneen, why do you think millions of people voted if they thought it was a waste of time? perhaps you arent the best person to represent the feelings of an entire nation.
Of course I am not the best person to represent the feelings of an entire nation. Even a president can't do that. And the stories we heard in Iraq are necessarily true. Besides, many people didn't vote!
It's just a matter of time, we will know the final results soon.
Dear anarki, your friend's reason is really tempting! Can I participate with you?? :)
I'm planing for a final tour in the colleges inside Baghdad bfore I leave (that if I will leave), and might be coming to your college as well :)
I just hope the voting yesterday, whether yes or no leads to some sort of stability in Iraq. It's sure been a hard way for all of you--and for a lot of Americans.
And, if you come to Columbus, Ohio--the home of Ohio State University--with your scholarship, please plan to visit my wife and I. You will be welcome.
:)
Hope u'll get what you want and more to come!
c ya round, then!
moIf just voting against it because you don't like the government, this is not a good reason at all cause it serves nothing for the people of Iraq who need a stable country that obey by the rules of Law.
Voting against it because you hate federalism, then wake up and smell the java.... Iraqi Kurds don't consider themselves Iraqis or Arabs and they shouldn't have to.. cause they are not. Shia wanting some sort of control make sense after all they have went through. and since the sunnis just don't like the fact that they will never have as much control over the country as they used to means that federalism is the most logical for a country as divided as Iraq. America is federal by the way and look how big and powerful they are.
I don't know, but voting NO seems to be just a way to protest the government and not really to go over the constitution and see what it stands for.
Unfortunately
haneen, the middle east is the myth capital of the universe. you've heard stories about the pope and bill gates converting to islam too, im sure. you've heard rumors how saddam was living in the white bush with bush before he was captured. you heard rumors that the americans are the ones blowing up children with car bombs im sure....a rumor that the referendum is already rigged is just that...a rumor started by ignorant fools. im really surprised that someone as educated as yourself would even entertain such bizarre stories. maybe when you stop believing such garbage and start questioning things with an academic mindset the truth will be easier for you to see.
I couldn't vote because I'm not in Iraq but the poit is I don't want this constitution to fail because it does not represent what we are Iraqi people really are.
Iraq's constitution was written in the 1920s and it never said sunies or shiees. If this classification was written then it will divide Iraq.
I read the constitution in the news paper and believe me it's not about federalism because if u say Kurds are in the north you can't say Sunies are in the middle or Shiees are in the south because we are mixed and we never thought about it. we were Iraqis and that's it not Arab Sunies.
and if the sunies are called arabs what will u call shiees?? Persian!!
And oh by the way, my Dad voted yes!
Iraq is one country, why should it be divided and have federalism?! We can't make it that way cuz simply you can find Kurds living everywhere in Iraq, and so as the same for Shiees and Sunies. If we have to accept the federalism then it means that everyone should go back to his\her place of origin! For me, I was born in Baghdad and I refuse to go back and live in a place I never saw before only cuz it's the place of my origin.
Iraq is not as big as America, and if the federalism succeded in the U.S., it doesn't mean that it will succeed in Iraq. Besides, the Iraqi population is not made of only Kurds, Shiees and Suniees. So there for we have to divide the country MORE and give each minority a piece of land to live in.
Iraq is but one land and one people, and it should be the same forever. Dividing the country is not a solution.
I think most people don't get the whole idea behind federalism. Most people just think of it as a way to divid the country and that is it. In reality federalism means that local regions will have local governments so they can respond to the need of the local people quickly and efficiently while obeying the laws of the constitution of the country. Also federalism can be a great weapon against things such as dictatorship which Iraq has been the victim of for many years. Local governments can pressure the federal government and press them on issues while coordinating with them to serve the people. That way you divid the power of the government and decentralized it. That way you don't have a single guy telling everyone what to do. Also Iraqis are united but also diverse. The problem is that we never addressed the diversity of the Iraqi people. For example we never taught our kids in schools about the kurdish culture and how different it could be from the culture of the south and the middle of Iraq and how that is a wonderful thing cause when you have people with different sets of values living with each other in harmony which is a great sign of unity. Instead we just ignore the fact that Iraq is divers and have people with different cultural values. We just say there is no difference among the people ... end of stories. If that was the case, then why Iraqis from certain groups have been treated differently in the past? where was the national unity back then? I guess no one think of the past as a bad one.... instead it was this awesome fake dream where Iraqis lived together in harmony without any problems. Wake up people... Iraqis were forced to do everything in their life, including how they talked or NOT talked about their believes.
Nationalisties in Iraq? Believe me there are more different nationalities in the US than any country in the world. In Columbus, Ohio, where I live there are 9,000 Russians, 30,000 Somalis (all within the last 10 years), thousands of Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Iranians, you name it. Sure, Iraq is not the US and visa versa, but I challenge any country to deal better with its various groups than the US does. And, sometimes the US does not do it well, by the way. But, we don't do it with bombs and bullets.
I know fairly well about federalism. And it's up to me weather I like it or not.
I noticed that most of the people become aggressive when it comes to the political point of view. You want to impose your opinion on the others, but you don't like to hear their opinions! It's a fact and it's happeneing everywhere.
All what we are saying now is only guesses. We don't know what will happen untill the results are announced. For me, as any other Iraqi person, I want peace and democracy for my country with or without federalism. If it's the good thing, then let it be.
Salam!
Hmmm.... well, it was good posting; you clearified what what turning in our minds...
But ur " I feel indifferent about it.." was embrassing.
Yeah, you have the right to say that, but c'mon, this is n't the constitution of US, France, Uruguay or Nepal! this is about our entire nation future, hopes and dreams...
I'm not trying to say that you should vote for or against it but what i'm saying is quiting that carelessness resulted post-saddam regime fall.
Ok... Hope I didn't bother you with my opinion and i apologize in advance if I did....
stay safe,
-Another Alnahrain Unversity dude-
haneen, your political views are your own, but your reasons for not liking federalism were...bizarre. i find it hard to believe that you really understand federalism and democracy when you write such strange things. who told you this? can you give an example of how federalism divided other countries, since it is not just used in the US? your example of how you dont like federalism because you dont want to move away from baghdad...well, it just didnt make any sense. maybe you can explain what you meant better because it sounded like something a 9 year old would write. im not trying to insult you or anything, but if you didnt understand federalism or democracy, then just say so. its not a big deal, it can be complex. however, it is better to remain silet and be thought a fool then to speak out and remove all doubt.
Hi Hanin... How r u ..I like this site and the issues that you stimulate in this beautiful way..you are a great lady..my name is Ardalan Issa I live in Dohuk City IN the north of Iraq ...Bye Bye Hanin...
hey haneen could you please keep me informed about the Fulbright updates..thank you..I will appreciate that..bye bye..wish you good luck
forget to tell you that my name is Ardalan..and i hope that keep me informed about the Fulbright updates...
Hello Ardalan, nice to see you here! I see that you are also a Fubright Grantee, I saw your email in the IraqiFulbrighters2006 Group. Congradulations for you, and wish you good luck. I'm glad that you liked my blog. Sure, I'll keep you informed with any updates, you will see regular posts about the issue :) Hope that you will visit again.
wow Haneen, I can't believe you think this way about the constitution...never thought you'd be like this...
Ardalan
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