Alexa, Preston and Jean - one ballot can only go so far

Page 9

On a warm and inviting morning - June 2 to be exact - at the tender age of 34, I lost my political virginity to an older woman, an attached woman at that. I am, of course, talking about that ravishing creature known as Alexa McDonough.

Up until that fateful morning, I must confess to the world that I, Drew Hayden Taylor, had never voted in my life. Not in a federal election, a provincial or municipal election, not even a band election on my reserve. My ballot had been uncast, waiting for the right candidate.

Now, I think it's important to say that I'm not the most political of people. I can barely spell Alexa McDonough. Is it Mc or Mac? Or is she Micmac - just kidding. So why did I choose that NDP hellcat from the East Coast while the rest of the country chose the sweet wooing of that "little guy from Shawinigin?" I don't know. Who can say what motivates the passions of voters? Not I.

The ironic thing is I don't even consider myself particularly left wing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not particularly right wing either. It's just that in the broad political spectrum of Canadian politics, I consider myself outside the normal parameters. Being Native, I like to think of myself as being a "red wing."

So why did I vote for Alexa and her loyal followers when there is, I believe, at least one Native Member of Parliament who has sworn allegiance to Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party? I mean, how can you not admire the resourcefulness of a guy who used an Inuit sculpture to defend himself against a deranged intruder. Jean - Warrior Prime Minister. It's just a pity that's become the only practical use for art among politicians. But I'm not bitter.

And what about Preston Manning and the Reform Party? Well, according to many Native beliefs, the West is believed to be the land of the dead. I won't even go into that.

Charest and Duceppe weren't running in Ontario. Duceppe was actually running from Ontario. And some, more cruel thAn I, would say Charest and his party weren't running on this planet.

All that this means is after all these years of living a politically celibate life, I can no longer wear white. And again, we're back to the question of why Alexa? Is it just because she's the lesser of evils? No, that would be too cynical.

After much soul-searching and introspection, I came up with the only logical reason I could find. My girlfriend told me to.

Hey, it's as good a reason as any.