Does voting mean this much to you?

Photo originally from http://www.friendsofdemocracy.info/

Still continuing from here, Powerline has a touching photo of an elderly Iraqi expatriate voting in Michigan. He is weeping because his son--who lost his life in the 1991 uprising against Saddam--was not able to vote with him. Sure puts some perspective on ST (Jan 28), "Iraqis living abroad show little interest"--but it sure meant a lot to Mr. Mehsin Imgoter.

UPDATE: Forgot to mention: Friends Of Democracy--ground level election news from the people of Iraq is the place to follow the Iraq election. One interesting bit from the site relevant to the above:"Polarization and Apathy Co-Exist Side by Side" (Jan 28):

In many ways Iraq's pre-election season is like pre-election seasons everywhere else. Polarization co-exists right alongside apathy...

Everyone is talking about January 30th. Some want to participate to give legitimacy to the new government. However, a minority of citizens is not interested in elections or other daily concerns because they have a comfortable income. Few of them, who were dismissed from their jobs for political reasons, are indignant when they read in the dailies As Sabah or Al Zaman about new job appointments while they are left behind. Many truths will be revealed when elections are over and final results announced.

UPDATE 2: Another indirectly relevant story here:

As the Iraqis see the improvements made in their lives by working with the coalition forces, they become more willing to sacrifice their own personal safety for the welfare of the people they care for.As the Iraqis see the improvements made in their lives by working with the coalition forces, they become more willing to sacrifice their own personal safety for the welfare of the people they care for.

UPDATE 3: A list of the bloggers and other people covering the Iraq elections is complied by Jeff Jarvis