Hello to all my fellow denizens of the Swing State Project! I’m Ari, better known as the Caped Composer. For the record, I really am a composer (and a female one at that! How many female composers do you know? For that matter, how many female Ari’s do you know? I’m a double rarity!) Regarding the “caped” part of my name, I’ve only worn a cape once in my life, when some friends dared me to wear one to a college football game. That incident gave rise to the nickname.
I am not trained in political science– my degrees are both in music, as a matter of fact. During my adolescence, I had no inclination toward political activism at all. That all changed with the election of 2000, the first presidential election in which I was old enough to vote. The debacle in my native South Florida splashed cold water on me, so to speak, and I have grown increasingly active in left-leaning politics ever since.
In 2004, I was living in Chicago (I went to graduate school there,) and I am proud to say that I spent election day in Wisconsin, getting out the vote for Kerry in the crucial suburban districts outside Milwaukee. Many other Chicagoans also participated in this manner, and I believe that it was our efforts that gave Kerry the razor-thin victory over Bush in Wisconsin.
Since that time, I moved to New York, but have kept my fingers on the pulse of congressional and senate races across the country. 2006 was an invigorating and ultimately rewarding time; I spent a great number of hours calling voters in swing districts all over the place!
My greatest hope for 2008 is that we can significantly increase our majority in the senate, and, furthermore, elect genuine progressives to both houses of congress. Donna Edwards’ victory over Al Wynn earlier this week was, I hope, a sign of good things to come.
So, with that . . . I conclude my introduction. I can’t wait to blog about more and more congressional races!
To be completely honest, I’ve written one song, about a year ago, (choral – a capella) influenced mostly by Eric Whitacre’s dissanent. And actually like, three year ago, I met someone name Ari at a camp. So your double rarity isn’t that rare to me, but then again I don’t really compose as a hobby anymore.
Can’t wait to have you blogging here nonetheless! Welcome, and nice to meet you!
Welcome aboard Ari. Will be glad to have you posting. Just for the record, I do have one female friend who goes by the name Ari.
When do we get to hear some of your music?
If you’re half as good at swinging states as Nyro was at block chords, we’ve got something!
Welcome!
I do happen to know that there is a certain Ari Clark who makes a name for herself on Facebook by having the Pythagorean Theorem tattooed on her back.
Also, I was personally trained in music before going onto a completely non-music major in college, even though I still have a large involvement with music–though my influences these days have grown from merely classical to just about anything, with an emphasis on videogame soundtracks.
And I was also in south Florida back in 2000. I was in high school back then. In Broward County, for that matter.
To be honest, I think I started to become involved in politics because of that. Ironically, not because I was inspired by something amazing (like how (Bill) Clinton was inspired by JFK), but because I was disgusted by something very wrong.