FATHER JOHN...

- an Ode against State Terrorism -

for choir & piano

Robert Steadman & Mark Sealey

Stop the War Coalition

In 2004, there was a discussion on an internet messageboard about how it always seems that pop and rock musicians stand up to be counted on issues of conscience and politics while those from the classical world tend not to react to events in the same way.

Composer Robert Steadman and poet both expressed their desire to be able to use classical music to make a point about state sponsored terrorism in general and U.S. foreign policy in particular.

The result is FATHER JOHN... a seven and a half minute anthem for choir and piano which they now offer as a free download to other musicians who also want to make a stand on this issue.

Father John is a reference to John Negroponte, currently the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.

  • Download the score.

  • Listen to a MIDI file.

  • Download the lyrics.

  • if you're planning a performance of Father John... or have any comments.
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    Whereas much current state propaganda tries to use fear of isolated fanatical groups acting against innocent people for no apparent reason - eg Islamic terrorists - as a lever to advance fascism, globalization and diminished human rights, in fact far, far more terrorist crimes are committed by states than individuals or groups.

    Gideon Polya has recently calculated that the annual probability of being killed by those whom Western governments define as terrorists is 0.00003%; the probability of being killed at the hands of US or UK state terrorists 4.4%.

    Since 1975 more than two-thirds of the arms exported to developing countries went to regimes using state terrorism. The main suppliers to these terrorist governments were the United States, Russia and France.

    For further information:

  • Media Monitors - American State Terrorism
  • Monthkly Review - Volume 53, Number 6
  • What Really Happened - US Interventionism

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