Optimism

Item from Iraq.

[T]here is a pronounced optimism about what the elections signify among people who have grasped for a turning point during nearly two years of occupation. For many of the men gathered here, sitting under portraits of Baghdad's history, the elections are more important than the candidates.

"Without elections, there will be tyranny," said Kadhim Hassan, a 37-year-old writer.

I have seen enough stories like this to also be cautiously optimistic that a ruthless faction of the 20% Sunni minority will not be able to stop democracy from "finding its way" in Iraq.