THE FUTURE BEGINS ON SUNDAY IN IRAQ

Sunday will be the start of something big: a democratic future for Iraqis. I'm praying for them. I've read countless heartwarming stories about Iraqi families planning to vote. Some are staggering their voting times - so if there's an attack at their polling place some members of their family will be sure to survive. Another family has decided to go to the polls all together; they want to vote together or DIE TOGETHER while voting: "democacy is that important to us - it is worth dying for."

God Bless them all - no matter how they vote. And may God Bless our troops.

Here's a very touching account by Iraqi blogger Mohammed of Iraq the Model (hat tip WINDS OF CHANGE):

Less than 48 hours left before the people of Iraq experience free decision making for the first time in their country's modern history. It's a moment of pure freedom but still surrounded by lots of dangers just like any beautiful rose surrounded by spikes. There is fear from the enemies of freedom who have their weapons already prepared to intimidate us and stop us from choosing our future. But at the same time we're full of hope as we know that we've put our feet on the right track and even if we make a bad choice once, we know that we will have the chance to reevaluate the situation again. No more tyrants ruling the country for decades.We're standing before a historic moment and I won't be exaggerating if I said that it's an important moment for the whole world; we're standing before a crossroads and everyone should watch and learn from the rebirth of Iraq. Regardless of the winners in the se elections, those who opposed the elections and resisted the change will have to deal with the new reality. In 48 hours from now, the dying dictatorships and their filthy tools, the terrorists, will find themselves facing an elected legitimate government in Iraq.

The tyrants nightmare is becoming reality, now they will have to deal with the scariest word in their dictionaries; THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE. The terrorists have challenged the bravery of the Iraqi people but they messed with the wrong people. The people have accepted the challenge; democracy and elections are not a luxury for Iraqis, it's an issue of life or death. And the terror brutal campaign has only made the people more determined to go on with the change. The results of some recent polls that have shown how determined Iraqis are to hold the elections might have surprised you, but they weren't a surprise for us; we're not the kind of people that kneel to terror and the sights of blood and beheadings. Saddam had tried all tools of oppression, killing and torture he could find against our people (including WMD's) but he failed to make the people believe in his hateful regime. And that's why the people abandoned him and now, he and his regime are just a bad old tale from the past. On Sunday, the sun will rise on the land of Mesopotamia. I can't wait, the dream is becoming true and I will stand in front of the box to put my heart in it. Mohammed.

WOW.