I’m sitting, sipping my gin and tonic. In the background Rage Against the Machine plays, their lyrics openly advocate a need for change.
We live in a country that for the past four years has focused primarily on the occupation of a quaint little spot in the Middle East know as Iraq.
It’s time for a regime change.
Election day is approaching, and even the apathetic can get involved. Perhaps going to a rock show and having a few drinks is for you. On Nov. 3, that atmosphere was provided by MTSU Students for Barack Obama and Nashville Loves Barack Obama at Club 527.
“I wanted to find a way to engage younger folks in this election,” Zack Marshall, state coordinator for Students for Barack Obama, based out of MTSU, explains. “We give students a show they can come out to, as well as inform them about the senator.”
The event included four bands: Kyle Andrews, Cougar Fight, HiPhi and Kristi Neumann. They all volunteered to perform, eager to get people to come out and get involved with the election.
“I started reading Barack’s books,” Neumann, a vocalist and guitarist, says. “They inspired me and gave me a lot of hope. Barack tries to bring Americans together, regardless of political parties and ideology. He has a fresh outlook on politics and realizes this country has a capacity to change.”
Voting Is Priceless (VIP) was also on hand at the event to register anyone, who wanted to, to vote. It’s a lot more fun to be able to listen to some music at the bar when signing up to vote rather than hunting down a voter registration station.
“All the events we put on are in coordination with VIP,” says Mary Ellen Henley, founder of Nashville Loves Barack Obama, who helped organize the event at Club 527. “This is the first event in a series of ?Barack the Vote’ events we want to put on.
“The next show will be Nov. 30 at Exit-In in Nashville. If anyone missed the Murfreesboro event, they’re more than welcome to come out drink a few drinks, listen to some music, and learn a little bit about the next election.”
Shelly Fairchild, Kyle Andrews, Space Capone and Cougar Fight will perform at that free event and organizers hope to stage other events in the future with some big name entertainers.
Henley, a Nashville mother of two, founded Nashville Loves Barack Obama because she was disappointed with the last election and she wants help build an America based on “positive politics.”
“Positive politics means people are able to take politics into their own hands,” Henley explains. “Barack has built his campaign on grassroots organizations of citizens. Not on the back of lobbyist funding. What we do at Nashville Loves Barack Obama is put on events with grassroots organizations across the state. We are trying to build solidarity among the local groups.”
Henley explains that her organization teamed up with Students for Barack Obama, because it helps unite students with the larger cause of Barack’s campaign.
“Together with other organizations, Nashville Loves Barack Obama wants to impact the community and show people that they do have a voice in their government,” Henley says.
Both Nashville Loves Barack Obama and Students for Barack Obama are putting on events over the rest of this year. They both want to stress the importance of the upcoming primaries.
“Tennessee is a primary state,” Marshall tells. “As a state, we are going to be important to whatever campaign a person may support.”
Even if political rallies, marches and fliers are not for you, there is still a way to get involved and have your voice heard. Events like Barack the Vote, including music and drinks, may be a good alternative form of politics to get involved with.
For more information about upcoming events or to get involved with Barack’s campaign, visit myspace.com/nashvillelovesobama.
