Iraq Elections

IRAQI ELECTIONS -- (House of Representatives - February 02, 2005)

(Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, 3 weeks ago, I was able to go to Amman, Jordan, with the Iraqi Women's Caucus to meet with candidates for the upcoming election. I have got a few e-mails from some of them since the election that I would like to share.
One wrote:

``My finger is still the color of ink and I'm not afraid. It is a shame to be afraid while others who couldn't walk on their legs, but they came to the ballot stations and voted and dipped their fingers in ink. I am very proud of my people. Yes, they suffered a lot and they wanted to end this suffering. The first step was their voting without fear.''

Another one said:

``We heard an explosion that was made by a suicide bomber, but I was very surprised and so proud when I saw other people who didn't yet vote go, `Ha ha ha. It is okay. The terrorists cannot prevent us from voting and we will vote after half an hour from this explosion.'''

Another one wrote saying:

``It is a great honor for us as candidates to represent this people which proved they were true living nation in spite of mass graves which was made by the last regime and terrorists. The Iraqis which I have the honor to be one of them were braver than their leaders.''

Finally, the last e-mail I received:

``It was a big day.''

To my friends, the candidates in the Iraq election, I am very proud of you. I am very proud of the Iraqi people. I, too, agree it was a very big day, not just for Iraq but for the world.

END

http://thomas.loc.gov