Mr. Speaker, democracy is best defined as government based upon the consent of the governed.
As Conservatives, we believe that people everywhere have a natural God-given right to democracy and liberty. We applaud the results of yesterday's election in Iraq, the first fully open, voluntary and democratic election in the Arab world.
We were all moved by scenes of long lines of citizens of the new Iraq standing patiently and proudly, bravely defying all threats and joining hands with their children so that those young eyes would remember forever the price so many were paying for their liberty.
Skeptics throughout the world, including many in our midst, said that these people lacked a desire for democracy and were indifferent to its alleged blessings. Iraqis, they said, would not measure up to this challenge to defy suicide bombers for the sake of depositing a ballot in a box.
The people of Iraq have proven wrong this pessimistic and demeaning judgment of them. They have reignited the cause of democracy and have set an example for those in our own midst, where only 60% of our citizens vote in federal elections.
We salute the supreme sacrifice which has been paid by Iraqi forces and coalition forces. We thank the people of Iraq for this reminder--