I am a Youth and I vote 730!

By: Ara Alan

Dec 12, 2005

With the Iraqi election at our door steps discussions and concerns are high especially among the youth on who to vote for. As a youth living in America, most of my discussions are on the many different Kurdish forums available on the net. Many on these forums echo the complaints made by the new generation in Kurdistan; lack of electricity, housing, corruption, and just not enough attention to the youth!

As a Kurd that has lived in Kurdistan during its hardest times, and now with an opportunity to see that same Kurdistan from the out side; things appear much more differently. It is true that all of the above complaints exists and we cannot ignore them. The true reality of the matter is; how big are the above situations when compared to the given time that we are in? One should ask himself, would Not voting or voting for another list other than 730 fix any of the above problems? To answer these questions we must imagine the out come of an election with a weak 730 representation in Iraqi government.

This up coming election is important because its result will last a full term of four years. As seen in history of all those nations that function on a constitution, it is usually the first two terms that dictates the path that the entire nation will take for generations to come. It is in this beginning term where railing are laid for future journey ahead. In Iraq it will be the same. Yes the constitution has been written already but to what degree it will be expressed has not been decided. All laws that will be passed in this first term will decide which section of the constitution will be very strictly enforced and which section in it will be put to the side to be a rule on paper only. Those with the strongest voice in the newly formed Iraqi government will have the biggest say in it all. Today we have to be careful this election is much different from last. In this election the Sunnies have learned from their previous mistake of NOT participating in the election, and now they are coming back with vengeances. The Shias are also more united! With the recent pull-out of Islamic party from 730 we need every Kurdish vote. We must not make the mistake the Sunnies made by not voting nor of the Shias of having a divided house.

We must remember that voting for 730 is not a vote for any particular Kurdish party but it is a vote for Kurdistan. I have seen in the forums where a person said "I will punish a a particular Kurdish party by voting for other than 730." Such decision will only hurt the Kurdish voice in an Arab dominated Iraq. 730 is the dominant list for Kurdistan, and the other lists are much more weaker. A vote for a loosing list is a lost of much needed Kurdish vote. If the list doesn't have enough votes to get a chair, then all those votes are not counted for, thus not useful. Dividing up our Kurdish votes among different lists will create much more lost votes. Even if a particular list receives enough votes for a chair any votes that are extra will be lost. having a united list will decrease the lost votes while maximizing our ability to collect most chairs in the Iraqi parliament.

From surfing the different Kurdish sites I see a great deal of negative campaigning done by the lists other than 730. They campaign not by saying what they can do for the Kurdistani people but by exaggerating the imperfections that exist in Kurdistan. The state of mind negative campaigning has is; they are bad every thing is bad don't vote bad vote for us. It is true that our government is not perfect and there are many aspects of it which needs improvements, but it is ours, its Kurdish and I am very proud of it. Not too long ago many youth our age were rotting in the dark prisons of Iraq. Our people were shelter less under the rain and attack of Fighter plains, police and military patrolled the streets of Kurdistan insulting and robbing our dignities. From that life now we have our own Kurdish police, Kurdish school and universities. We run our own government. Every Shahid family is being cared for by the government. Most of destroyed Kurdistan has been rebuild, every one has gotten rich, some more than others but they are all rich. Kurds are being recognized internationally! Kurdish language has been spoken in the United Nations, Kurdish presidents are on tour visiting the other nations with all the media attention on them. We have came a very long way in a very short time. A nation is being build in Kurdistan one brick at a time. 

As Iraqi government will be formed and its first term beginning. It is very important to have a strong Kurdish influence where the foundation of a new Iraq is laid. The Shia and Sunnies have learned from their previous mistakes of being divided and by abstaining from elections. It is now time for us Kurds to be stronger and more united than ever. Voting for 730 is voting for Kurdistan's future in a new Iraq. Our united votes through 730 guarantees a stronger Kurdish influence in an Arab Iraq thus a brighter future and better life for us youth.