Few weeks ago I called one of my long time friends in Kurdistan-Iraq to have some friendly conversation and intellectual discussion. It is the Parliamentary Elections season in Kurdistan and each political Party is campaigning and preparing their candidates to gain the Parliamentary seats in the Kurdistan region.
“What a coincidence that both the U.S and Kurdistan are Preparing for Elections at the same time” I said. However, Kurdistan’s election will be held on October 20.
There are two main Political Parties, The Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriot Union of Kurdistan. Each Party has been controlling one part of the region. The tension is high in Kurdistan and attacks and accusations from those two Parties are in effect. The rigid mentality of the Kurdish Politicians has caused a worrisome situation in the community.
Recently, my friend’s brother, who holds a position in the Kurdistan Regional Government and member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was attacked with water bottles during the campaign in the market area. My friend commented and criticized the Politicians who provoke such an uncivilized acts. He said that we obviously have a lot to learn about Democracy.
I advised my friend to not feel distressed about his people and the Politicians in Kurdistan. While your candidates in Kurdistan have thrown water bottles at each other, here in my beloved America, my candidate is dodging bullets. Former President/Presidential candidate Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts while he was campaigning. He was struck by a bullet from the first attempt with a minor injury to his right ear.
Both Kurdish and U.S politicians are standing on a hollow foundation and selling nothing short of political emptiness to their citizens, It is not surprising to see the similarities in politics and the political propaganda between Kurdistan and the U.S. Indeed, Kurdish politicians are now repeating the same rhetoric as the Americans, which is defending democracy and improving the economy.
For example, one of the two main political Parties has been controlling the major economic sources in the region yet people are struggling. The leaders of the Party promised people that if they vote for its members, they will boost everyone’s economic status. Does this sound familiar? Vice President Kamala Harris is promising, if she is elected, a tax cut for the middle class and better economy in the nation. If that’s truly the Democrat platform why hasn’t it been implemented? It is clearly a hollow promise in search of votes.
The desperation of the unethical politicians can be clearly observed during election time – empty promises and attacks on the opponent to take them down by any means.
Defending democracy is another “battle cry” that some of the Kurdish politicians, especially from those who occupy the government seats and are struggling to maintain power, are shouting. Meanwhile, the Democrat Party is preaching to Americans that THEY are defending democracy, while politically weaponizing branches of the U.S. government and offering up a candidate that has never received a single primary vote!
The truth is self-evident for all to see.
– Serwan Zangana supported Operation Iraqi Freedom as a U.S Army translator before coming to the U.S from Kurdistan, Iraq in 1997 to seek political asylum. He was granted asylum status and years later proudly became a U.S citizen. He currently serves as a correction officer in Roanoke.