More on Iraq’s elections, from my Tech Central Station column:

America had its Declaration of Independence, and now Iraq has had its Blue-Finger Revolution. Just don’t expect those on the far left to afford the Iraqis the respect that they are due.

Just as the colonists who signed onto Jefferson’s handiwork pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to each other, Iraq’s bluefingers have risked their very necks — not just in showing up at the polls on Sunday, but in the weeks and months ahead as the indelible, blue marks of their bravery slowly, slowly fade from their skin.

Though perhaps it is mawkish to dwell on the point, Americans should not forget — and many will not be able to — the great physical risk that each Iraqi voter willingly undertook. It’s not as if they weren’t warned. The blue finger was already a symbol in the weeks leading up to the election: Reportedly, al Zarqawi’s men put up posters in Mosul warning, “You vote, you die.” The picture accompanying that poster showed an ink-stained finger next to a headless corpse.

Even a large segment of the media seems to have noticed.