Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner' Draws Ire

[Tab]

MIAMI - British music producer Adam Kidron says that when he came up with the idea of a Spanish-language version of the U.S. national anthem, he saw it as an ode to the millions of immigrants seeking a better life.

But in the week since Kidron announced the song — which features artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon — it has been the target of a fierce backlash.

Some Internet bloggers and others are infuriated by the thought of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung in a language other than English.

"Would the French accept people singing the La Marseillaise in English as a sign of French patriotism? Of course not," said Mark Krikorian, head of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports tighter immigration controls.

The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," comes out Friday and uses lyrics based closely on the English-language original, said Kidron, who heads the record label Urban Box Office.

Pro-immigration protests are planned around the country for Monday, and the record label is urging Hispanic radio stations nationwide to play the cut at 7 p.m. EDT Friday in a sign of solidarity.
More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060427/ap_en_mu/spanish_national_anthem

[Lost-in-FL]

1. >

:popcorn:

[jdelullo]

2. Pledge in Spanish

Back in high school Spanish class, for part of one year I had Spanish first thing in the morning. After we heard the Star Spangled Banner over the announcements, we said the Pledge of Allegiance IN SPANISH. At the time I thought nothing of it, but I later learned that some students'' parents weren't happy that the pledge was being recited in Spanish. I didn't see what the big deal was.

[area51]

3. Welcome to DU, jdelullo. (n/t)

[alarcojon]

4. In the words of Jimi Hendrix

"Unconventional? I thought it was beautiful"

[psychopomp]

8. I remember that interview

(I wasn't around to see it the first time around but I saw it in a video some time ago.)

A very apt comparison, alarcojon!

[alarcojon]

9. He got a solid round of applause

then flashed a peace sign.

[DaDeacon]

63. To this day one of my favorite versions of the song.

"The Star Spangled Banner," performed by :

1) Marine corp. marching version always (moving & stately )
2) Whitney at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 (Bold and Brave)
3) Jimi Hendrix Woodstock in 1969,( Brash,innovative and all American!)

[Blaze Diem]

5. Personally..I applaud anyone finding their way to a better life..

leaving their homeland for a better life, and more respect as a human being and future for their families. Yes I understand what brings people to America, legally or illegally.

However...I am feeling a bit trampled upon and just a bit more disrespected when my english language is demeaned, my jobs are handed to those who will take them for half the wage, and those who raise their Nations flag over the flag of my country..the same one these people immigrated to for a better life...
Something is wrong with this picture..It a feeling of being slapped in the face..for the efforts to build this America, to its greatness, is so easily disregarded by a seeming grab for all it can give with not much of a sign of respect for the fact that it is still another Nation..different than the one they came from.

I'm seeing things pushed in the faces of American citizens in such a way that I fear will bring on more hostility and resentment.

Like the kid at your birthday party, the one that you invite but end up wondering why, because he wanted the biggest and first piece of cake, was the first to whine when he lost at the party games, you know..the loud one that demanded he get his way without consideration as to whose party it was nor whose home he was in..

Blend in man, not freakin take over.
Its causing more hostility than necessary.

Just my rant..
Save your breath when telling me about racism & the hardships of their governments...we struggle in this country also.
Appreciate what America has offered you, and you'll always have a place to call home..OK? Can I ever hear of the Hispanic population of immigrants appreciating what America has given them? I do not hear that. What I hear is demands and hostility gradually on the increase, It will at some point create fear, and that will create more harm than necessary.

Can anyone see my point?

Thanks for the space to rant.

Its simply an observation and its what I hear others talk about.
And I do see their point, also.

[alarcojon]

6. "Blend in man, not freakin take over"

In what universe are you living? We aren't "taking over" by any stretch of the imagination. It's white dipshits like Bush who are fucking up this country, not some singers who want to reinterpret the Star Spangled Banner. Do you imagine that the Spanish version is going to be played at your local Fourth of July cookout or something?

"Appreciate what America has offered you, and you'll always have a place to call home..OK? Can I ever hear of the Hispanic population of immigrants appreciating what America has given them? I do not hear that."

I fully appreciate what America has given me. How many of us do you actually know, to make a statement like this? But you know what, we are a nation of immigrants, and each new immigrant changes America - adds a piece to the mosaic that is this great nation.

Peace.

[Blaze Diem]

10. I could easily tell you of many situations where the

hostility I speak of is a reality. You must know that not all immigrants are friendly towards Americans and this, my friend is what I am talking about.
I know many Hispanic co-workers, families and their beautiful children..great people they are, as there are many great and good within every culture that makes up America.
I refuse to look at the whole big picture and close my eyes to the reality of hostility being created, however.

Its there. Period.

Do you realize that it is a reality also? Do you give a darn about it? Do you know that when you use the word "white guys" you are separating races?

Get used to the hostility , then. Because the way America has evolved as the great melting pot it is, is also by the tolerance of many, many cultures..living under one roof. I do not see any other culture in this Nation making the demands in such a hostile way as the Hispanic culture is currently doing.
Can they possibly show any respect for this America by at least not placing America's language beneath theirs nor raising their flag higher than the American flag?

We're not asking much. I could not condone this in any other foreign Nation..Why would you think America should welcome such disrespect.

Thats all I'm talking about.

As I said..my rant is based a lot on what I hear and what I read in my daily life..There is a degree of hostility that's been bred by the behavior I spoke of.. This brings me to worry about where this hostility will eventually be played out. Innocents, no doubt.

Do you realize how many other ethnic cultures there are in this Nation? Hispanics are not the only foreigners...we are ALL from somewhere else.
Get It?

Go ahead and fight for what you believe in but do consider that many Americans are feeling as though the immmigrants whom they DID welcome have come with much disrespect for this Great America.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. "we are ALL from somewhere else"...Not.

I'm beginning to think that this is the Karma our nation has asked for from its beginning.

We did not blend in with the Americans that were here before us...We freakin' took over. Some of those Americans became concerned about the mass immigration that was taking place; and fought against it in a fashion not unlike today's vigilante minutemen. Of course, they were considered brutal savages...not people who were defending their country.
We've yet to acknowledge that we invaded America.
And the funny thing is, we're still invading.

[mondo joe]

17. "We" didn't do any such thing for the most part.

The ancestors of some of us might have.

I don't believe in genetic karma.

[Castilleja]

64. Thank you

I have seen numerous, numerous threads where your comment needs to be said.

[Exiled in America]

86. We are responsible for our heritage and its legacy.

You don't get to just walk away from responsiblity for the society in which you participate and its legacy just because you weren't the one physically slaughtering native americans to make it possible. Of course you weren't. But you daily reap the rewards and take your privileges because of your forefathers who did, and you walk every day in a society which ingores the fact that it is built on the foundation of genocide while lecturing the rest of the world about how to behave.

That's not something you get to just ignore.

[alarcojon]

14. "I know many Hispanics.."

Look, I really don't mean to flame you, but I must point out that "I know many Hispanic co-workers, families and their beautiful children..great people they are, as there are many great and good within every culture that makes up America" doesn't reconcile real well with "Can I ever hear of the Hispanic population of immigrants appreciating what America has given them? I do not hear that." So why the hyperbole?

I believe where you and I fundamentally part ways is in laying the blame for the hostility you perceive, with your language about us "taking over" and the other blatant exaggeration I've already pointed out. Your statement "Save your breath when telling me about racism & the hardships of their governments...we struggle in this country also" is also quite telling - we suffer as poor whites do, and in addition face prejudice and discrimination on top of that. Or are you of the Tony Snow school, where racism doesn't matter anymore?

So sorry if my use of the term "white guys like Bush" has offended you. Your posts are filled with blatant generalizations, but when I point out to you that white males are still very, very much in charge of this country (can you even try to deny this?), you paint ME as the divisive one.

"Do you realize how many other ethnic cultures there are in this Nation? Hispanics are not the only foreigners...we are ALL from somewhere else.
Get It?"

This statement really seals it for me - how stupid do you think I am (am I lazy, too?) to not realize the truth of what you say here? Could you please address me a with a little less condescension in the future?

Is THAT too much to ask?

[rigel434]

20. A lot depends on the presentation ...

I hope the May 1 protestors get good PR advice because so much depends on the presentation of their grievances. I recall seeing one lady protestor with a sign that said "we love this country, please let us stay we just want to work." I think the vast majority of Americans would be sympathetic to an approach like that.

But there's an entirely different reaction when you hear talk about protestors "shutting a city down" in protest or something like that. My reaction to threats like that is to not want to help them at all. Wait and see how the May 1 protests go.

[alarcojon]

22. You're absolutely right

I strongly favor the former approach. But this really does bring up the issue of media coverage. Judging by the way this administration and right-wing hate radio have fanned the flames of anti-Latino sentiment, I think we will by and large not see accurate, balanced coverage. In other words, thousands of people marching peacefully are no match, ratings-wise, for a few idiots burning American flags, vandalizing, or similar self-destructive behaviors. It then becomes incumbent on the rest of us to keep the one-sided coverage I anticipate in proper perspective.

BTW welcome to DU :toast:

[Blaze Diem]

27. HOSTILITY is what I am talking about!

What color am I? What ethnic variety am I?

Do you just grab at any chance to get defensive? Or could you actually listen to what I'm saying?
There is hostility being bred by the very FEW things I mentioned.
Its all related to the growing feeling of disrespect for the Engligh Language and the American Flag beneath another country's.

Is it that difficult for you to understand how some may feel demeaned by these actions?
Racist I am NOT. It is about the illegal immigration of another country into America..that we are discussing Hispanic at the moment does not absolve any other immigrant from illegal entry.

My own Hispanic friends managed to learn the English language, and arrived here legally. There is a bit of hostility on their part towards the illegals, however!! Did you realize that the Hispanic people who did arrive here legally harbor some resentment for those who chose to come here illegally?
I have talked to a few who feel that way..
I didn't expect you to know that.

I resent your flaming and the fact that your immediate defensivness towards me..do you know anything about me?..has told me simply that I cannot offer an observation nor an opinion about what I see or read or hear daily, without being called racist, and lumped in with the Tony Snow fuckin bunch.

I am allowed, in this America, still believe I am anyway, to state an opinion or an observation without an attack of hostility. Do not call me racist..I would have a problem with any immigrant who spit on my language and demeaned my generosity regardless of what country their from. I was born in this country..a country where everyone I've ever known has an ancestry somewhere else. I'm quite used to races other than my own. Its not race that's the problem, its the behavior that is though.

Do you get the point now?

I don't know what you or anyone is going to do about this, but I hope you look at the picture as other Americans might be seeing it.

Do you not see that certain behaviors of the current push for amnesty may indeed be viewed by Americans as demeaning?
How can you not see that?

[alarcojon]

31. My last thoughts to you

Your point is easy to grasp - I just disagree with most of it and vehemently disagree with your choice of words (which consists of facile generalizations) and your continued condescension towards me.

"Is it that difficult for you to understand how some may feel demeaned by these actions?"

No, it is not. Leaving aside your continued assumption of my mental thickness, yours is an opinion on a discussion board, which others are free to comment on.

I happen to disagree with flying the Mexican flag over the American flag. As far as the issue of "their taking our jobs," let me just say that that is too big a can of worms to take on here and would be threadjacking. So let's distill it to the topic at hand - a group of recording artists chose to record the Star-Spangled Banner in Spanish. You choose to refer to this as your English language being demeaned. I simply disagree. No need for hard feelings over this simple point. Personally, I could care less if the Star-Spangled banner were recorded in multiple languages. I don't find it infringes on my "culture" as an American. People singing this song are singing the praises of this country - I consider that, to paraphrase you slightly, appreciating what America has given us.

Our culture is always changing, influenced by many factors, prominent among them immigration and demographics. To me, this is to be welcomed, not feared or resented. You and I cannot control the course of cultural history.

"My own Hispanic friends managed to learn the English language, and arrived here legally. There is a bit of hostility on their part towards the illegals, however!! Did you realize that the Hispanic people who did arrive here legally harbor some resentment for those who chose to come here illegally?
I have talked to a few who feel that way..
I didn't expect you to know that."

I understand this point perfectly (I was just discussing this with my mother this morning) and will only add that you can't seem to help throwing in the condescending "I didn't expect you to know that" line. Why should I not know that? Why should you assume that?

"I resent your flaming and the fact that your immediate defensivness towards me..do you know anything about me?..has told me simply that I cannot offer an observation nor an opinion about what I see or read or hear daily, without being called racist, and lumped in with the Tony Snow fuckin bunch."

Of course I know nothing about you, save for the thoughts you have written down in this thread. I make no apologies for taking your statement "Save your breath when telling me about racism & the hardships of their governments...we struggle in this country also" as a minimization of what Latinos have gone through and continue to go through to make it in this country. If you told a black person "save your breath when telling me about racism, we struggle in this country also," I suspect you would be met with a difference of opinion!

"I am allowed, in this America, still believe I am anyway, to state an opinion or an observation without an attack of hostility. Do not call me racist..I would have a problem with any immigrant who spit on my language and demeaned my generosity regardless of what country their from. I was born in this country..a country where everyone I've ever known has an ancestry somewhere else. I'm quite used to races other than my own. Its not race that's the problem, its the behavior that is though."

and you accuse me of defensiveness? You are reading me as calling you a racist. I have not in fact done so, though you apparently feel my comparison of your statement to Tony Snow's amounts to that. Both statements serve to minimize the impact of racism in this country. End of comparison.

I was born in this country too, and have always been proud to be an American, of the values we as a nation hold dear. And I am just as pissed as you at how Bushco are dragging this country down.

"Do you get the point now?"

Do you normally speak to adults like this? I already told you I consider this type of constant "do you get it...how can you not see it...do you even care" language condescending. Obviously you do not care enough to try to check your words.

------------------------------

And that, dear sir or madam, ends my part of this dialogue with you. Naturally, you are free to get in the last word - rest assured I will read it and consider it, but I don't feel further dialogue between us would be at all productive.

Peace.

[Blaze Diem]

48. "Your point is easy to grasp " ..............................

Dear alarcajon:

Since my point is easy to grasp, I'll ask you to just save the rest of your rant..I frankly could care less what language the National Anthem is sung/spoken in, my reference to stepping on my English language is due to the many who refuse to learn to speak the language of this country...That in itself creates a whole new area of hositlity...but hey I'm just the messenger.. I have my reasons to see this subject the way I do..I fear the behavior I am increasingly seeing will bring on hostility gotten out of hand... and you have yours
end of subject.

I'm more concerned with what has been stolen, sold, lost forever, etc. in the years George Bush has been residing in our White House.
Its pretty damned fucked up right now.

[alarimer]

16. well if they are not friendly

it's because of the hostility they no doubt face from a lot of people. And it is probably hard to tell who might turn them in.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jerry611]

12. Only if they do it legally...

I look at illegal aliens as people who do not respect our laws. It is illegal, and they know it is illegal, to enter this country without going through the proper process. If they cant respect that, how am I supposed to believe they would respect any other law in this country?

I am all for legal immigration. But if we allow people to just jump across the border whenever they want, we might as well not have a country anymore.

And my great grandparents came here legally. They went through Ellis Island. They were tested for disease. They didn't go to Mexico and jump the border and then protest in the streets by waving their country's flag.

[alarimer]

18. Blame the companies that hire them

They are doing the same thing all our ancestors did (or most of them anyway- except those that, like mine, were fleeing the law LOL)

[bperci108]

25. Consider this:

"I look at illegal aliens as people who do not respect our laws. It is illegal, and they know it is illegal, to enter this country without going through the proper process. If they cant respect that, how am I supposed to believe they would respect any other law in this country?"

I see your point, but they come here because they are wanted here.

Corporate Amerika has a vested interest in keeping them in illegal status; no OSHA, no Wage & Hour problems, no minimum wage, no benefits, etc. What a bargain!

Add to that the endless red tape and hoops to jump through, plus the years and years it takes to gain citizenship and these desperate people do what they have to do.

It doesn't make it right, but any rational, empathetic person can understand why they "break the law". Scrubbing toilets for 2 bucks an hour beats the hell out of starving down in Chihuahua or Chiapas.

On top of that, any person willing to risk their life to cross the desert, possibly dying of exposure or thirst, or risk being murdered by the coyotes who smuggle them, or be shot by swaggering, gun-fetishist, xenophobic "minutemen" will likely make a damn-good citizen.

"I am all for legal immigration. But if we allow people to just jump across the border whenever they want, we might as well not have a country anymore."

The Republic won't cease to exist because there are a few illegals here. It didn't mean the end at the dawn of the 20th century (when there were far, FAR more illegals, percentage-wise, than now) and it won't be the end now. If there were no place for them here, they wouldn't come.

"And my great grandparents came here legally. They went through Ellis Island. They were tested for disease. They didn't go to Mexico and jump the border and then protest in the streets by waving their country's flag."

As did some of mine.

But their ordeal to become a citizen was nothing like the one now.

When it becomes a jailable felonious offense to hire illegals, (and I mean the CEO goes to federal prison for one year, no exceptions), and violating companies are fined one million dollars per illegal per day, then the illegal immigration will stop that very day and there will be 12 million people lined up on the north side of the border waiting to go out.


We both know that isn't going to happen.

[Igel]

44. No, it's not that "they come here because they are wanted here".

I've heard that said again and again in interviews: "I came here 2 (3, 5, 10, 20) years ago to help build America." Nice spin, if you like wading in that deep.

They didn't come here because they're wanted here, or to build America; they come here for better pay.

"They come here because they do better here economically" or "They come here because they make better money here" is accurate. If "we" wanted them here and weren't willing to pay them more than they make in their home countries, do you think all the wanting we could muster would make one iota of difference to most of them?

[bperci108]

68. It's not "spin", friend.

It's the most accurate truth.

Corporate america wants the cheap labor and the effects it has on the labor market and the labor movement. PERIOD.

(Perhaps you should read my previous post a little closer and for comprehension this time before going off half-cocked?) :eyes:

Dumping on the immigrants is just plain old xenophobic, nativist, right-wing thinking. That sort of nonsense is best left to Limbaugh, O'Reilly and the SavageWiener.

Welcome to the Plantation Nation. :)

If you want to buy into the same old RW "divide and conquer" rhetoric, that's your business.

[EFerrari]

59. That's what Geronimo thought too, I bet. lol

[struggle4progress]

21. La inmigración y la clase dominante en EEUU

(27/04/06 ) El domingo pasado marcharon medio millón de personas en defensa de la inmigración en Dallas, Texas. Al día siguiente, lo hicieron unos cientos de miles más en más de 60 ciudades. Pocas semanas atrás, había marchado medio millón en Los Ángeles… Algo muy importante está ocurriendo en Estados Unidos.

Las protestas fueron provocadas por una legislación que se debatía en el Congreso, concebida para controlar la inmigración ilegal en los EEUU –que se estima de 500.000 personas al año—. La derecha republicana representada en la Cámara Legislativa, luego de haber enfrentado una difícil elección en noviembre, trata de usar el voto anti–inmigración para aumentar su caudal electoral. Pujan por lograr una ley que reforzaría los controles fronterizos e impondría fuertes multas a quienes emplearan a inmigrantes ilegales ...

http://colombia.indymedia.org/news/2006/04/41311.php

[alarcojon]

24. Oooh, you posted in Spanish

Isn't that against the rules or something? :sarcasm:

Bien hecho!

[snooper2]

43. It is at one web site......

noblepoker.com (your supposed to post in English only)

Lots of people from France play there, and I have to use the dictionary.com translator to see what they are saying.. :)

[Igel]

46. Not against the rules.

Just absurdly rude, intentionally leaving most people out of the rozhovor.

In any event, 'que habia debatida' and 'pujaron' would have been presnejsi, samozrejmne, since the legislation was voted down by the time the article was written. Presnost is, IMHO, absolutely dulezita.

Surely you agree with something so obvious?

[alarcojon]

47. I'm not offended by your use of a language I don't speak

since you're intentionally using it to make a point. As was, if I may presume to speak for him, struggle4progress.

[Igel]

66. To je dobre.

But I note that you didn't actually answer my question.

Not exactly quality dialoguing there. Which was, of course, my point. You switch languages knowing that others won't follow you, and you're intentionally shutting down communication. The poster can say STFU, or do it in ways no less objectionable, but which cannot politely be objected to.

Si la meta es una falta completa de comunicacion, de veras 'bien hecho'. Si no, me parece que no comprendo la palabra 'bien'.

[alarcojon]

67. You mean this question?

"Surely you agree with something so obvious?"

Please. First of all, if it makes you happy, I will concede the absolutely trivial point that the post in Spanish shut some people out.

And then I will reiterate that I think struggle4progress posted in Spanish as a statement against the English-only sentiments expressed so vehemently in this thread.

[struggle4progress]

70. I don't know why we can't have a country where most people speak ..

.. several languages.

In much of Europe, people learn several tongues as part of their ordinary education.

Perhaps being fluent in two languages (English and (Spanish or Chinese or French or ..) should be a high school graduation requirement: this seems essential for our future economic security ...

[struggle4progress]

72. In my area, the local traditional language of the Eno seems to have been

.. displaced by a bunch of immigrants who came in and didn't adopt the lingo. The colonial populations and the natives they assimilated in the West and Southwest spoke Spanish before the English flood.

So your principle, that it's rude not to use the local tongue, seems to be a relatively recent discovery, having limited historical precedent.

I don't wish to dismiss the principle out of hand, because there certainly are times when it should be applied, as (perhaps) in Iraq nowadays, where American soldiers regularly kill civilians who fail to respond appropriately to commands shouted in English: that sort of thing really IS a major breach of etiquette, and in such cases providing a lecture on manners is the least we could do, appropriate as long as we are committed to doing the least we can do.

[0007]

57. This sez it all.......

Vote Here

What do you think about a Spanish-language version of the 'Star-Spangled Banner'? * 75,677 responses

Great. This version reflects the multicultural country the United States has become.
13%

Awful. This version represents a rejection of assimilation into U.S. society.
82%

I'm not sure.
5.5%

[noamnety]

40. I lost you at the English language being demeaned

People speaking in a particular language does NOT qualify as demeaning other languages. I'm a little shocked people would be personally insulted by a method of communication.

[Exiled in America]

87. It is irrational.

It's typically some form of slippery slope argument, since no one can make a rationally justificable argument why it is wrong for a group of people to decide to translate anything into any language.

By the way, all you bible readers out there who are blathering on and on about how wrong it was for a group of people to tranlate the national anthem out of its original language:

Please read the bible in its original hebrew or aramaic, not its english translation from its original language... or shut the fuck up. :)

[Zorro]

7. Jose can you see?

Heard that version a long time ago.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I remember a music book from my childhood

that included Le Marseilles, with English lyrics.

[JI7]

15. some people are such assholes

[Umbram]

23. Some of them just need better hobbies.

[struggle4progress]

19. Las liricas, por favor ... eom

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. You just have to wonder what causes people to....

...hate other religions, cultures, languages, and races so much. Makes you wonder how they were raised and under what conditions.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Blaze Diem]

50. Fear...causes hate.

Doesn't always have to do with how they were raised.
It does have to do with how they're treated by the other race, religion, etc.

[6000eliot]

28. That song blows.

They can't make it much worse than it already is, war-mongering crap.

[Blaze Diem]

30. LOL...nicely put..

It really does "blow"..Bombs, rockets, blasting...comes straight from the "shock n awe" crowd..

Anyway, all I know is that I have to work tomorrow, so I can pay more taxes, so Bush's boys can buy more freakin prostitutes or something.

They actually spent my taxes on prostitutes!
bastards.

[0007]

51. I wonder if the Mexican Secret Society sings it with as much

passion?

[Cobalt Violet]

33. I love the song.

It's very hard to sing; most people don't have the range. And not many people know the lyrics, especially to the last 2 verses.

[raccoon]

41. And the tune was a drinking song before Key wrote the lyrics.

And it's very difficult to sing.

I recommend that the national anthem be changed to "My Hometown" by Bruce Springsteen. It expresses well current conditions in American society today. :-(

[6000eliot]

42. Or "This Land Is Your Land"

Even "America the Beautiful" would be preferable.

[Homer Wells]

74. EXACTLY!!

It was a German drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven", I believe, and it didn't even become the National Anthem until the early part of the 20th century.

ATTENTION, Freepers, it's just a damn song-and as some other posters have said, perhaps not the best song to symbolize our freedoms and ideals, at that.

I wonder if these extreme Zealots have a problem with people of other cultures praying to their God in something other than English, since their blond-haired, blue-eyed God only understands that particular tongue.

The whole immigration thing is designed, packaged, and delivered by their RW propaganda machine to distract the sheeple from the failure of Bush Co in the Middle East.Until slavery is reintroduced into our culture, the only way these farmers and such in the West (and other places) can keep pulling in these great profits is to have a cheap supply of immigrant labor, most desirably (for them), ILLEGAL, since a minimum wage and safe working conditions need not apply. This is similar, in some ways, with Steinbecks "Grapes of Wrath", with only the names and culture of the characters being changed.

A very good magicians trick is to distract the observers eye in one direction while performing his sleight of hand with the other.
Houdini would be impressed!!!

:mad: :dem:
:patriot:

:hippie:

[Virginia Dare]

52. The British wanted "regime change"....n/t

[Robbie Michaels]

32. Any Canadians In The House?

Do you have a problem with "Oh Canada" in French? I'm not looking to start any trouble. I'm just curious if that's an issue or not, considering that there is somewhat of a separatist movement in Quebec.

[arbusto_baboso]

55. I'm not Canadian, but FYI...

Cananda's national anthem was actually originally written IN FRENCH! It's the English lyrics that are the translation!

Any Canucks in the house wanna back me up on this one?

[sugapablo]

34. File this one under...

"WHO GIVES A FUCK?"

Although we all know the answer to this one. Stupid people with sticks up their assholes!

Who cares about English vs. Spanish? What the fuck? The "song" is a poem, never meant to be put to music. The music is actually an old english drinking song! (To Anacreon in Heaven) Worse yet, that particular song was filled with *gasp* idolatrous themes!

So what's more offensive, singing the anthem in another language, trying to do something patriotic, or having our national anthem be a "remix" of an old english (the country against whom we were fighting to gain independence) drinking song?

So file this one under "WGAF" along with the whole "gay" issue, the "happy holidays" controversy, and other issues where some uptight mother fuckers just can't stand to let other people live their own lives in peace and dignity.

Edit: spelling, my bad.

[Lindacooks]

62. Yes, exactly. People upset over this need more to worry about

in their daily lives. Hopefully things like lack of health care, health crises, no money, bankruptcy, etc.

[bmbmd]

35. Do you think these irate people

get po'ed when deaf people do the anthem in sign language? Are they trampling over my tradition by using a language other than my own?

[MaineDem]

36. We learned the Star Spangled Banner in French in High School n/t

[Selteri]

37. Wow, trying to distract us with a non-issue

I could care less about the language they say the hollow patriotic Amiricun gestures, I care more about seeing socio-economic balance and justice inside of the US for all people.

I'm sure though that this is a much more pressing issue than the corruption in the Republican Congress, the President and his exhaustive list. This is about 500 on my list of things needing to be addressed and that is without any real thought.

[drm604]

39. This whole issue is another distraction.

There are important issues to be concerned about. This isn't one of them.

[rodeodance]

45. its a wedge issue. meant to divide once again.

[President Kerry]

73. bing bing bing.. You are Right ON!

That's how the Reichwing crowd spend their days. Blowing non-news out of proportion for political gain.

[noonwitch]

49. I don't care if people sing the national anthem in any language

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE!!!
We have a tradition of the majority speaking english. If the spanish-speaking americans want to sing the national anthem in spanish, I applaud them for their desire to express their patriotism in the language they are most familiar with.

I wish I had taken spanish in high school, instead of german. Spanish is highly useful-lots of people here speak it, there is a lot of music written in spanish, and it's latin-based, so one can learn french and italian easily if they know spanish.

[bdamomma]

54. they could sing it in any language

I really do not care, and also English is not our national language, people actually believe this, almost sounds like those sheep who say Christainity is our national religion. This is not America, people are really going out of their minds.

[gauguin57]

53. Our country is falling apart. Don't we have bigger fish to fry than THIS?

Another tempest in a teapot to divert attention from our REAL problems. Of which there are many, many, many, many, many.

[Left Coast Lynn]

56. Bigotry plain and simple

Damn

[Lydia Leftcoast]

58. Big deal--Canada's national anthem comes in English and French flavors

:shrug:

[stanwyck]

60. Wow. This is really bringing out

those who embrace nationalism (which is not patriotism). English is NOT our national language. We're not that fascist. Yet.
And the message of the song is the same in whatever language.
Maybe some of us need to remember the message. Or should we just grab Lady Liberty and send her back to France?
Remember The Star Spangled Banner's message -- about the beauty of our country.
It's getting lost in all this self righteous anger about, gasp, a patriotic song being sung in Spanish.

[trogdor]

61. Yeah, and the Bible should be only in Latin, too!

Damn that Martin Luther for starting this trend of translating the Bible into the vernacular. Before long, we'll have all kinds of furriners thinking it was written with them in mind.

[onenote]

65. and what about that "feliz navidad" thing

How dare Jose Feliciano sing about Christmas in Spanish...he must hate Christmas.

onenote

PS - And how dare McCartney sing part of Michelle in French. Ought to ban that sucker from the radio.

PPS - And Kennedy should've been impeached for speaking German to the Berliners....


:sarcasm:

of course

[Coventina]

69. It probably has deeper meaning for those who have come here recently

For me, the "Star Spangled Banner" has become a travesty.

Land of the Free?
Home of the Brave?

Please. Land of the brainwashed and home of the fearful is more accurate.

[politrix]

71. The Whole Song Is Offensive

"Oe're the land of the FREE?!?"


It should be: "Oe're the land of the FREE (whites) and, the home of the slaves"

After it was written, they went home to their slaves. Just like Jefferson, et al did after signing the 'Declaration Of Independence'.


It sickens me to hear it. We need a national anthem that reflects the changes that took place. If the dixie flag is the banner for slavery, the national anthem is the ode to slavery.

I means that whatever took place, whatever heroism or bravery, it had NOTHING to do with black people. No more than the 'declaration' did.

[Neshanic]

75. "Our Anthem". Translation, OUR Anthem, not yours.

After reading the crap about what inner bigots, closet xenophobes, and all around Mexican haters we are, no wonder the right has a field day with us.

Yes, it sucks as a national anthem. But it is our national anthem. Learn to sing it in English. If not just stand. End of story.

Oh, and by the way, my line of work brings in contact with illegal aliens on a weekly basis. I asked some about this. They were horrified.

[Solon]

77. "Our" being White only Anglophones, correct?

[amandabeech]

78. Perhaps the poster means

U.S. citizens of whatever race, creed or color, and, perhaps, those who aspire to U.S. citizenship even in the era of Bush.

From my experience, citizens of other countries referring to to "their" national anthems commonly refer to the anthem of the country in which they have citizenship.

This is a very touchy issue right now. Let's all of us try not to assume the worst interpretations of each other's posts.

[Neshanic]

79. The Spanish version is titled "Our Anthem"

"The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," comes out Friday and uses lyrics based closely on the English-language original, said Kidron, who heads the record label Urban Box Office."

Why is it necessary to alienate as many people as possible by naming it that? Is it linguistically impossible just to sing the current one in Spanish? Is it necessary to then call it "our" anthem? The last time I checked the national anthem is for all Americans now and future, and ones trying to become citizens.

[Solon]

81. Maybe they are trying to be inclusive, but its being lost in translation?

Look, the name "Our Anthem" is actually not exactly alienating regardless of the language its sung in. Now, could they have called it "The Star Spangled Banner", yeah, perhaps, but it probably wouldn't sound to good, plus, why assume, since in many cases these are OUR citizens we are talking about, that this version of the Anthem would be exclusive, just because you can't understand it?

[pookieblue]

76. I would rather hear in Spanish any day...

then to have to suffer thru another of Rosanne Barr's version. Ugh.

That being said, this isn't the first time the Star Spangled Banner has been sung in another language. I'm sure some others here will know of more. But I do remember, during the Kerry Convention, they had some Native Singers, singing it in what was is it Lakota?

Forgive me, the MS had my memory shot. Can anyone help me on who sung it?



Oh btw, my favorite version has to be Whitney's.

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[progressivebydesign]

82. "drill in ANWAR"? "round up illegals"? oh.. you're gonna be popular here.

Just waiting for the fireworks...

[fujiyama]

84. I think someone took a wrong turn

LOL

[alarcojon]

88. Enjoy your stay at DU

[progressivebydesign]

83. Immigration is the new Gay Marriage. and the GOP scores with it!

Gee.. amazing how easily the GOP has framed the latest battlefield for the elections, and how easily it gets eaten up by even DU. Immigration is ONLY an issue now because it's the Rove "gay marriage" debate that worked for them in the last few elections. Find something divisive that is GUARANTEED to create passionate reponse and bring out voters that might not otherwise vote. Also, it's a great way for the GOP to bring back the racists into the fold... Just as with gay marriage, where they brought all the really hard core old timers back into the fold to vote, and the church goers who believe that hate is a commandment. And everyone is falling for it.

[fujiyama]

85. Ummm....

As far as I know, The National Anthem is poem/song made of words and words can get translated to other languages. It's a fascinating concept, isn't it?

I guess that Bible should never have been translated from its "native" form either.

Honestly, it's one thing to debate whether society should require public funds going to multilingual services. But anyone offended by this is beyond stupid. It's a song and people can sing the damn thing however they please.

[pinerow]

89. zzzzzzzz.....

nt

[hiphopnation]

90. Record it in as many languages

as there are countries represented here in the states...methinks the framers would approve and if not, fuck 'em. :nuke: