Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
After the elections
From my friend at the US Embassy in Baghad today - a brief exerpt:
What a time! Yesterday the Iraqi janitor held up his blue thumb proudly as he emptied my office wastebasket. At dinner, I happened to sit next to a colleague who was next door to the office the rocket hit on Saturday, and she alternated between smiles and tears as we talked about the success of the elections, and losing her two friends. This morning was their memorial service. The new, large Chapel was bursting with people, standing/sitting/kneeling in the aisles between rows and rows between rows, spilling out onto steps and sidewalks. All nationalities and many different uniforms - an Iraqi colleague who worked with the deceased gave a brief eulogy and thanks prefaced by "In the name of Allah the Merciful and Compassionate..." Throughout her brief remarks she displayed her ink-stained finger.
Also, I posted this link in the comments of a previous post, but it's worth noting again here. It's an absolutely moving slideshow about the elections. Get your tissue handy.
