The Purple Finger of Democracy

Today's greatest symbol. The terrorists are killing people, but it's not stopping the Iraqis:

"As the day progressed, at least nine deadly homicide bombings and mortar strikes shook several polling stations across Iraq. The attacks killed at least 31 people, including four policemen and two Iraqi soldiers.

Despite the attacks, turnout was brisk in some Shiite Muslim and mixed Shiite-Sunni neighborhoods. Even in the small town of Askan in the so-called 'triangle of death' south of Baghdad - a mixed Sunni-Shiite area - 20 people waited in line at each of several polling centers. More walked toward the polls.

'This is democracy,' said an elderly woman in a black abaya, Karfia Abbasi, holding up a thumb stained with purple ink to prove she had voted."