Obama-nation
I have never really understood American politics. It seems a little redundant and convoluted. But of course my American teacher would take offense to that; many an American would even go as far as to say that Canadian (and, by association, British) politics are confusing. That’s not really the purpose of this article.
Rick Mercer, a comedian/Canadian political pundit (that could very well be compared to Jon Stewart) put the real comparison that needs to be addressed. Canada is known – even prideful – about its diversity. People of all nationalities, religions, sexual orientations and skin colours all live in relative harmony up here in the great white north.
But one look at our party leaders, a big white guy, a skinny white guy and a mustached white guy, would make you think otherwise. Sure, there is one female that I know of that is the head of a party, but that party does not have any seats currently, so you really can’t count it (how ever much you may or may not want to).
America is known the world over as a “melting pot,” which means (for a lack of a better dictionary) that everyone that enters into American citizenship does his or her hardest not to show the culture from whenst they came. And yet their political landscape, yes, has a few white guys themselves, but the front runners for one of the parties are a woman and a black man.
I say – good for them. Canada needs to learn a political lesson from the Americans. Not the confusing ones… the ones that show that the norm – or the white lawyers from Montreal, Toronto and Calgary – don’t need to be followed anymore. Voter apathy in Canada with the 30 and below set – including yours truly – is at an all time low. The political landscape in the US is more exciting than it’s ever been.
I think its time to kick out the white guy, the white guy and the other white guy. This coming from a white guy.