We are witnessing something rather profound in Iraq - the opportunity for religion to be deeply felt, not simply adhered to with the hollow consistency of the brainwashed. There, in the Fertile Crescent, along the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, where civilization was formed 6,000 years ago, religion is again blossoming.

Perhaps soon the citizens of Iraq will be able to enjoy those basic freedoms so aptly expressed in Article 18 of the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

The freedom to leave one's religious preferences to one's conscience, rather than the arbitrary dictates of the local tyrant, bodes well for the Iraqi citizen's ability to achieve something rather extraordinary - basic human rights.