CNN: Alexander on English only national anthem

[BobcatJH]

On CNN, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander just spoke about a resolution affirming that our national anthem be performed only in English. Good to see the Republicans in the U.S. Senate are tackling the top priorities. Maybe someone should remind them that it's been exactly three years and nearly 2,300 American deaths since we accomplished the mission in Iraq. Or that the man behind the September 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, is still at-large. Or that the Atlantic hurricane season is one month away.

Never you mind those facts, Americans, because we're defending America from those translated national anthems!

[RobertSeattle]

1. Hey Lamar - has about banning the display of the Confederate Flag too?

[BobcatJH]

2. No doubt

I'm right there with you.

[TankLV]

36. Ouch!

Not that I believe any congress critter - INCLUDING ANY DEM - will actually propose this much needed ammendment!

[AlinPA]

3. "English only!", another red-meat republican issue. This is 'murca!

Burn all them Berlitz tapes!
Stop all thet teachin' of forin languages (French, Spanish, Russian, German, Japaneese) in schools!
Remove all them funny forin phrases from dickshunarees!!
Wave the 'ol red white and blue
Praise Jaysus!

[NoPasaran]

4. If English was good enough for Jesus

It oughta be good enough for anyone named Jesus, right?

[CottonBear]

20. LOL! n/t

[glarius]

5. We sing the national anthem in English & French...what's the problem?

At all occasions when the national anthem is played or sung here in Canada, we sing part of it in English and part of it in French. Sometimes the first part is English, sometimes French. It depends in what part of the country it is. Whenever the people join in they sing in whichever language is comfortable for them....There is no problem. I think this is a tempest in a teapot, if you don't mind a Canadian sticking my nose in.

[CottonBear]

12. Y'all have two official languages but we only have one which is English.

I object to the changing off the words in the Spanish version. If the words are changed then it is not the same song and thus it is not our national anthem.

I wish our anthem was 'America the Beautiful.' It is a much nicer song and much easier to sing.

[tocqueville]

14. I think they change a phrase by adding "all people are equal"

I think that the author would have agreed...

besides it's impossible to make an exact translation and to sing it. THe best you can do is to keep to the words and most all the SPIRIT of the original as close as possible...

[KansDem]

15. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think English is our official language

I think there has been from time to time attempts to make it our official language, but to date I don't think we have an official language.

I could be wrong...

[CottonBear]

16. You're right: it's not our official language.

However, in my almost 43 years, I've never heard it or heard of it being sung in any other language. I think it would be quite difficult to tranlate properly since it is written in very old fashioned English.

I have no problem with our new immigrants learning to sing it in English.

If I moved to another country and became a citizen, I would expect to hear and sing that county's anthem in the native tongue of the land. (I know that some countires have 3 or 3 official languages.)

[ieoeja]

23. Then you missed a few renditions.

"the national anthem has already been translated into German, Italian, Yiddish, Latin, Cajun French. . . .

"Not to mention Samoan.

"O Roketi mumu fa'aafi, o pomu ma fana ma aloi afi. . . . "


http://www.suntimes.com/output/quicktakes/cst-nws-qt01.html


Immigrants have been moving to this country, falling in love with it, and rendering the national anthem in their original tongue since forever. In the past we thought it was great seeing them express their devotion to their adopted country.

My initial reaction hearing the word "controversy" attached to this rendition was to laugh and mock the talking heads. From time to time they get all excited over some "controversy" that ends up never becoming the controversy they thought it would. And I assumed this would be the same. Why would anyone be angry about people singing the national anthem regardless of the language in which they sing it?

Once again, the ability of people to twist something wonderful into something bad eluded me.

[CottonBear]

27. I have never heard of any of these versions. I am surprised.

I have traveled all around the US and to Mexico, the UK and Europe. I simply never heard of it in another language.

I truly had never, ever heard or even considered that our national anthem was sung in other languages. I don't mind the other languages. I do agree with a poster in the thread about the original Spanish version that the recent version has been tinkered with and not for aesthetic good.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2601006

[TankLV]

37. You are correct.

There is no such thing as an official language.

But after this weekend, with the repukes DESPARATE to change the discussion from their CRIMINAL FAILURES, I expect to see a change soon, or a "demand" for a change.

Sigh...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. How do you translate a song without changing the words?

Doesn't make sense.

[CottonBear]

19. Some things are easier to translate than others.

I, personally, prefer America the Beautiful over our current national anthem.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. Yeah, and I prefer "This Land is Your Land"

But you didn't answer my question. Frankly, given the anthem's antiquated, and just not very good, lyrics, I'm happy they changed them.

[CottonBear]

22. A true translation tranlates the exact meaning as closely as possible.

Apparently, there is a version 'en Espanol' on the US State Dept. website. There is another thread on this topic.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Of course.

If you just translated each individual word you'd end up with engrish-sounding nonsense.

This translation was a modest one, "changing the words" as you put it but keeping the spirit the same.

[CottonBear]

25. Here is the original translation (not the recent one):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2601006

[glarius]

26. That's true...we are officially bilingual...I'm just saying the transition

from one language to another is no problem. We can sing it lustily in either language. It seems to me there are much more important things to get worked up about.

[CottonBear]

28. I recently heard your national anthem played at a race track in middle GA!

I attended a harness racing festival and there were a whole bunch of Canadians there. I was surprised. You don't usually meet Canadians in Northeast or Middle GA! Y'all are usually cruising south on I-75 headed for sunny Florida!

Everyone was very nice. The American flag was raised and the anthem sung and then the same for Canada. Nice!

I like y'all's song better. Ours is just simply impossible for most people to sing, even fairly good singers.

[glarius]

29. I think your national anthem is lovely but you're right it is very hard

to sing, in my opinion. You have to reach such a range of notes...high and low. Here's to both of them....:toast:

[CottonBear]

41. Both of our anthems are lovely! I agree!

If you ever go to Hawkinsille, GA from Nov. to April, you should stop and meet your wonderful Canadian compatriots!
I had the best time meeting all of the Canadian breeders, trainers, owners and drivers of the Standardbreds! (harness racing)
I especially loved 'Chasing Jiffy', a fabulous Canadian colt! I got to meet his Canadian people and him and pet him!

Oh! Canada! The flags were wonderful- our American flag and Canada together in the infield of the track and all of us Americans and Canadians in rural middle GA! Wonderful!

[Bridget Burke]

34. We have NO official language in the USA.

The words are not the problem. It's the tune.

[tocqueville]

13. Abroad, like at the Olympics it's sung in both

I saw it at the Winter Olympics when the flame was transferred. The singer started in French, then went over to English. The part "Oh, Canada" is of course sung in Canadian... :toast:

[madame defarge]

6. Why???

Our Commander InCompetent doesn't speak English...

[ProgressivePatriot]

7. Scum like Alexander....

preach diversity but, practice intolerance and a blatant hatred for America and her founding principles.

The scum of the right don't know the meaning of diversity.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

8. What an idiot

Puerto Rico is part of the US, they speak Spanish there, they should be allowed to perform the anthem in Spanish. New Mexico is officially bilingual, they have every right to perform it in Spanish. People in the SW have been using Spanish for centuries, if they want to perform it in Spanish, who cares? Don't we have highe priorities?

Those who want to hear the anthem in Spanish will hear it in Spanish. Those who want to hear it in English will hear it in English. This is, of course, a nonbinding resolution by Alexander and so has no legal impact whatsoever, nor could it-- you can't force people to perform the anthem in only one language, that's a direct attack on free speech. It's not anything more than a pathetic, idiotic attempt at grandstanding by the Rethugs as they watch the country collapse due to their policies.

[0007]

9. Argh!!

What a shock and awe.....song

[onenote]

10. don't we need a resolution specifying what key it should be performed in

And shouldn't Congress be doing something about those Baltimore Oriole fans that yell "OH" during the "O say can you see" part or folks who always yell "play ball" at the end (like the scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation).

Or maybe Lamar Alexander should think about doing something productive, like work on legislation that might improve health care in his home state so that its not third worst in terms of infant mortality rate.

asshat.

onenote

[TankLV]

38. You mean to tell me "play ball" AREN'T the last words of the National

Anthem?!?!?!?!

I learn something new every day!

[tjwmason]

11. I've got a small question.

Is it actually officially the National Anthem?

I know that over here there has never been a piece of legislation which established "God Save the Queen" as our anthem, it's just been recognised as such gradually since it was written during the Jacobite risings. On the other hand, I know that Australia did officially adopt theirs, replacing "God Save the Queen" during the furore following the dismissal of the Whitlam government. I was wondering which is the case in the U.S.

[NoPasaran]

33. It was adopted by Congressional resolution in 1931

[TayTay]

18. He spoke on the Senate floor about this an hour ago

and was a jingoistic blow-hard, as usual. Oh, and according to Lamar, multiculturalism is a major thing that is wrong with American. He's really okay with diversity, honest, as long as everyone decided to act like regular Americans and not try and sing songs in funny languages that Lamar doesn't like.

What a fat-head.

[yellowcanine]

30. Did he have his red and black plaid shirt on? To show he is one of the

peeps?

[TankLV]

39. Diversity is OK as long as everyone behaves and looks like ME!

I thought everybody knew that!

Just like freedom of speech is OK as long as you don't use it!

[maxsolomon]

31. Flag Burnings may only be performed

in Furriner Talk.

:sarcasm:

If i could disband the senate, i'd do it. Senile old coots.

[gizmo1979]

32. What a bunch of hooey.

Sing however you want unless it's really bad and I'm sleeping I don't care!People need to get a clue.There are actually problems that effect me that need taking care of,excuse me is anyone listening there on Capital Hill?

[erpowers]

35. Not Just A Red State Issue

The issue of the national anthem being sung in English only is not just a Red State issue. There are Democrats, including myself who are against the American national anthem being sung in a foreign language. The song really means something to me. The words, which detail what happened on the night before the poem was written, mean something to me. It is the American national anthem and I see no reason for it to be sung in another language other than english. In addition, the people who decided to sing the song in Spanish decided to change many of the words in the song to fit their ideas. So in essence the people who wrote the Spanish langaue version rewrote our national anthem.

I understand that at least some people here at DU think it is more important to worry about the soldiers who are dying in Iraq. However, I think we should remember those kids tend to believe in the American national anthem and not that of some other country. Yes, Congress should work on efforts to prepare soldiers more for this war and to give them the proper equipment. I do not think we at DU should engage in the wishful thinking that the Republican Congress would fight to bring the soldiers home.

[meow2u3]

40. Did anyone ever notice? (about the English-only bigots)

The loudest English-only bigots are the very ones who can hardly speak English.

I had repeatedly come into conflict with many an English-only bigot when I lived in Texas, and my comeback was: When are you ever going to learn to speak English? I can't understand a word you say!

[cboy4]

42. Hey, dumb fuck Alexander: It may be Spanish, but at least the lyrics

have the same meaning, if you subscribe to the National Anthem meaning anything important.

The latest figures I've heard is that at least 60% of Americans don't even know the lyrics in English!!!

I think you have better things to do in Washington than make a fool of yourself, even though I realize it appears to be your strong point.