Civil Rights for all Iraqis
As Iraqi elections near, The Lead and Gold blog compares the Shia struggle against their Sunni oppressors to the American civil rights era, highlighting a few heroes who died here in America in support of freedom for all Americans.

Is that comparison merited? Consider this report from an Iraqi blogger:

I had an interesting conversation with a middle-aged taxi driver who used to live in Fallujah and is now at relatives in Amiriya, Baghdad. After asking me which tribe I belong to (thus assessing my sectarian background) he started hurling abuses at the Shia, calling them Persians, Majoos (fire worshippers), rabid dogs and a handful of other descriptions that I can't mention here....

He said that resistance was the only commonsense solution. First driving out the Americans, then fighting the Shia back into submission (as in 1991).

I haven't heard of that kind of hate and bigotry since.... well the 60's. And yet it seems the same people who supported minority civil rights in America seem to be hoping that the Iraqi elections will fail?

- posted by The Dutchman @ 1:51:00 PM