U.S. Gov't Commissioned Spanish Language "Star-Spangled Banner" in 1919

[AtomicKitten]

FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919
http://www.thinkprogress.org/



The right wing is up in arms over a new version of the Star-Spangled Banner written in Spanish. Last week President Bush stated that “the national anthem ought to be sung in English.” Yesterday Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced a resolution requiring the Star-Spangled banner to be sung only in English:

"That flag and that song are a part of our history and our national identity. … That’s why in 1931 Congress declared the Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem. That’s why we should always sing it in our common language, English."

In his press release, Alexander said the Star-Spangled Banner has “never before…been rendered in another language.”

But in 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Education commissioned a Spanish-language version of “The Star Spangled Banner.” The State Department’s website also features four-separate versions of the anthem in Spanish.

It appears xenophobia isn’t part of the American tradition.

[wizdum]

1. Very interesting...thanks for that.

[Doctor_J]

2. That's because they're freedom-hating terrorists

and Rick Santorum is a better man than all of them combined. :eyes:

[Democrats_win]

3. It's hard work keeping track of his lies on Spanish-language nat'l anthem

[Ms. Clio]

4. great find!

[Bucky]

5. BOOM!! That's your headline!

Don't forget that several translations of the SSB also can be found on the Department of State's website

[Karenina]

6. Kick!

:kick:

[SaveElmer]

7. Wasn't yet the National Anthem...

Didn't become the official National Anthm until 1931 I believe, though it was typically thought of that way

[LittleClarkie]

8. Yes indeed. A local talk radio guy pointed that out today

said you could go online and see it if you wanted. So what's the big deal, anyway. We have an official version if anyone wants to sing it in spanish.

[ComerPerro]

9. xenophobia is a time honored traditional family value

[AtomicKitten]

10. A Republican one.

[ComerPerro]

11. exactly. They are the party of traditional family values

like xenophobia, homophobia, racism, and religious bigotry

[Hippo_Tron]

12. As far back as elementary school...

I was taught to believe that part of what makes the United States great is that we have no national language or religion because we are a nation of immigrants from different places and different backgrounds.

I'm very glad that back then we didn't have a President who goes on television and says "Yes, the National Anthem does mean less in Spanish and all immigrants should learn English" or I might believe otherwise today.

[Lifelong Protester]

13. I suppose some 'enforcer' from the DOE

will now come to my school and tell me that I can't say the pledge of allegiance in Spanish? I teach it to my students (who are very midamerican non-hispanic kids) as the words mean something to them in English, and when they say it in Spanish, they feel that same resonance! It works the other way too! (Learn it in Spanish, then English, the meaning gets embedded more strongly then,)
I have only taught Spanish for 23 years, so I guess the president knows more than me on the topic....

A big WHATEVER to this flap. :eyes:

If you are an immigrant, you know that eventually you will need to learn the language of the dominant culture. It isn't as if learning the National Anthem in Spanish is going to be an obstacle to that. Sheer survival and economic needs guarantee that.
I guess as a bilingual person, the one reason I hear that people are uncomfortable around people who don't speak English is that they are worried something is being said about them. Oh please. No one is that much the center of the universe.

[IndianaGreen]

14. Bawahahaha

This is just precious!

[populistdriven]

15. GWBush at Hispanic festivals sung ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ in Spanish

From the comments on your link:

check out this thread



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1080644&mesg_id=1080644

[Bushknew]

16. Delicious, absolutely Delicious

I’m Mexican American and I think the anthem should be sung in English but this is shocking news. Thanks for posting this AtomicKitten.

Republicans are such hypocrites.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Bushknew]

17. Bush sings

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B000BNPGAU/102-9962617-6660948?v=search-inside&keywords=sometimes%20joining%20in%20singing

on Page 142:
"... When visiting cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia, in pivotal states, he would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish, sometimes partying with a "Viva Bush" mariachi band flown in from Texas. ..."

[AtomicKitten]

18. hypocritcal assclown

adios el presidente

[Vidar]

19. Nice find.