A month after the formation of our Chapter of VFP #93 on the eve of the Iraq invasion, I attended the Dire Distress Teach-In, March and Lobbying effort in Washington whose intent was to prevent that impending war. Unhappily, this effort coincided with the beginning of hostilities. It was a moment when careless, uncritical journalism and ideologically driven politicians conspired to herd public consciousness into the intense, intolerant nationalism possible at such moments. The horrible inertia of an irretrievable decision for war made the public face of Washington oppressive that weekend.
So I found myself deeply grateful when the healing energy of shouting truth to power in Cadence Counting quickened our steps in the march through Washington. That day the raucous give and take of the Karma Cadences helped to coalesce and uplift all our spirits in the face of blunt public hostility.
For my part, it was over forty years since I felt the power of cutting-often self-deprecating-humor in the Cadences quicken enthusiasm and awaken deep solidarity among the troops-all bone tired, dehydrated, dust encrusted and hallucinating from heat exhaustion-as we trudged down some breezeless road in Kentucky or Georgia. The atmosphere in Washington that weekend was as oppressive as any I felt back then. And it was more deeply tragic. Nevertheless, the magic of the Cadences did have a therapeutic effect upon us as well as creating appropriate disquiet among some listeners who clearly found it difficult to reconcile Veterans with war protest.
These verses have been tagged "Karma" Cadences because their ultimate purpose, like that of Veterans for Peace itself, is to reveal the consequence of choices and to heal. Shortly after that Dire Distress March our chapter helped initiate the national web page that now contains these verses <http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Karma_Cadence_032803.htm>.
This local page is another effort to make their magic more accessible. We have combined them on a single-page, three-column Word document. You can fold it and slip into a pocket or tape it to a megaphone. We've made the print small, so it fits, but bold-faced the first lines to jog your memory easily. Please improvise, generate your own pages, and pass along your own original verses and variations.
BASIS CADENCE PATTERN
First: A Four-line Verse that holds a self-contained message. Each line is chanted by the drill leader, then shouted back at him by the troops en masse.
Example:
Drill Leader: "Hey-ey, hey-ey Uncle Sam"
Troops: "Hey-ey, hey-ey Uncle Sam"
Drill Leader: "We remember Vietnam"
Troops: "We remember Vietnam"
Drill Leader: "War will mean that soldiers die"
Troops: "War will mean that soldiers die"
Drill Leader: "War will mean that mothers (fathers) cry"
Troops: "War will mean that mothers (fathers) cry"
Second: Truth of Verse Re-inforced twice as follows:
Example:
Drill Leader: "Am I right or wrong?"
Troops: "You'e RIGHT!"
Drill Leader: "Am I right or wrong?"
Troops: "You're RIGHT!"
Third: Cadence is Counted Down as follows:
Example:
Drill Leader: "Sound off"
Troops: "One, two" or "Hey you"
Drill Leader: "Sound off"
Troops: "Three, four" or "End war"
Drill Leader: "Cadence Count" or "Bring it on down"
Troops: " One, Two, Three, Four" or "Hey you, end war"
"One, Two THREE, FOUR!!!" or Hey you END WAR!!!
KARMA CADENCE VERSES
TRIED AND TRUE VERSES
Hey-ey, hey-ey Uncle Sam
We remember Vietnam
War will mean that soldiers die
War will mean that mothers (fathers) cry
Bush decided to attack
Sent the army to Iraq
With guns to shoot and bombs to drop
All this killing has to stop
If they're telling you to go
There is one thing you should know
They wave the flag when you attack
When you come home they turn their back
Bush and Cheney talk war talk
But they are really Chicken hawks
Bring our troops back to our soil
They shouldn't die for Bush's oil
Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft , Powell
Bush's crap is smell'in foul
Got to be a better way
Time to put the guns away
(note: first letters of names spell C.R.A.P.)
Veterans are here to say
Bring the troops back home today
We don't want this Iraqi war
Peace is what we're marching for
WAR ON FAMILIES
He was a gleam in Daddy's eye,
His being born made Mama cry,
Now, can you give me reasons why?
George Bush has sent him off to die!
His Mama labored nine months long,
To give him life awake and strong,
Now Bush has sent him off to war,
And Mama's cry'in evermore.
He was a soldier brave and strong,
He fought Iraqis right or wrong,
Two women now are sad and blue,
Cus Ahmed had a Mama too.
His Daddy bounced him on his knee,
His Mama rocked him off to sleep,
Bush sent him off his oil to save,
Now Dad and Ma weep on his grave.
2004 ELECTION
If this Iraqi war, you hate,
Let's show this President the gate,
Regime Change, 2004;
Bush & Company out the door!
PREVENTIVE WAR (Bush) DOCTRINE
Terrorism, we were told,
By start'in wars can be controlled,
One of these days we'll learn the rule,
Preventive wars are mean and cruel
(or Elective wars just add more fuel).
There ain't no decent reason for,
Start'in a pre-emptive war,
Whenever smart bombs start to fly,
It make Iraqi babies cry
Pass on this order of the day,
Beware of any ranks that say,
Preventive war will keep us free,
Cus they're the real enemy.
TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN
Our leaders tell us God will bless,
America in our distress,
But God cries in Iraqi nights,
"Its not for Me you've gone to fight".
Our leaders say that God will bless,
Cus killing keeps our freedom fresh,
But God, She's shouting this to me,
"Killing won't make My children free".
In Washington our leaders claim,
Preventive wars are just and sane,
But Karma teaches, if we hear,
That shock and awe, cause hate and fear.
The Prophets point to Love within,
And Jesus says we all are kin,
Now Bush sends us in war to free,
By killing them, our family.
Now Buddha says all life has pain,
Though kindness can Nirvana gain,
But Washington holds the belief,
That shock and awe can end our grief.
God's law and Karma both agree,
That hurting others just hurts me,
But we are told war's obscene sell,
Somehow or other makes us well.
25 OCTOBER 03 DEMO VERSES
Hey, Hey Uncle Sam
We remember Vietnam
We don't want this Iraqi War
Bring our troups back to our shore
or
Peace is what we're marchin for.
Vets for Peace are here to say
Bring our G.I.'s home today
(or Brothers-Sisters home today
War will mean that soldier's die
War will mean that mothers crie.
Vet-er-ans against the war
We know what we're marchin for
Bring the troops back to our soil
We say no more blood for oil
Bush, he wanted to attack
Sent the army to Iraq
Guns to shoot and bombs to drop
All this madness has to stop.
Bush and Cheney talk war talk
But they are really chicken hawk
Cheny, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Powell
Bush's CRAP smellin' foul
or
If Bush and Cheney's so damn right
Let Bush and Cheney go and fight.
Bubya's lies should make him choke
He must still be snortin' coke
Saddam's secret poison gas
Must be stashed up Rumsfeld's ass
or
Must be something Rumsfeld passed
Bush, he says to "Bring 'em on"
But he's not standin near the bomb
With soldiers' lives he sure acts brave
But he's not standin' near their graves
Bush can say to "Bring 'em on"
Cus his kid's not beneath the bomb
With soldier's lives he sure is brave
His kids won't lie in soldier's graves.
The Neo-Cons (or Chickenhawks)
Beat the war drum
But none of them have faced a gun
They wave the flag both far and wide
But when its time to serve the hide.
20 MAY 04 VERSES
One year ago this very day
Bush betrayed the U.S.A
A year of lie have come and gone
Time to bring the soldiers home
How many more will have to die?
Because Bush and Cheney lie
Make the Crooks and Liars pay
This year on election day.
Halliburton & Bechtell
Think that this war is really swell
Corporate profits on the rise
Soldiers have to bleed & die
or
Long as its someone else who dies
When the G.I.'s come back home
And take off their uniform
"Support our troops" will sound just fine
On the unemployment line.
Military Families speak out
We know what we're talking bout
Sons & daughters, Husbands, Wives
Bring our love ones home alive
or
Some have already lost their lives.
For those already dead & gone
We will honor them & mourn
Keep standing up for what is right
For the living we will fight.
TEACH THE PRESIDENT HOW TO SPELL CHANT
Gimme the first letter of Cheney's name
Now give the same for Rumsfeld
What about Ashcroft
Let's not forget Powell
What's that spell
CRAP, CRAP, CRAP