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Friday, April 28, 2006

Our National Anthem, In Spanish

Hmm...

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.


Personally, I think this idea is about as dumb as waving Mexican flags at protests aimed at allowing illegals to stay in the country (why would you wave the flag of the country you don't want to go back to?) or staging work walk-outs to "shut down" American cities.

If the goal is to demonstrate that these illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in America then they should be demonstrating that they are willing to work to integrate with American society and make this country better. Waving flags from other countries, translating our national anthem into another language and "shutting down" our cities to intimidate citizens into doing what they want them to do is no way to go about this. If anything it solidifies the idea that many of these illegals are here to "cash in" on America's wealth without, in fact, becoming American or paying homage to things that made our society great.

Comments

Avatar for richard

rob you got it nailed down brother.

 

richard on April 28, 2006 at 08:09 am
Avatar for diane

So plug your ears or sing it in English yourself and don’t worry about who might sing it in Spanish.  I know Spanish so I could care less one way or the other.  The problem is not Spanish or English, it’s that the song has been prostituted by people who are going to destroy our country, not by immigration, but by needless immoral wars, taxation to fund them, and a number of other absolutely ridiculous reasons.

The song is only as good as the country it’s about and this country is sick, very sick.  Both parties are selling us down the river and all most of you do is throw a fishing pole over the side of the boat as it drifts into oblivion and defend the destroyers.

diane on April 28, 2006 at 08:09 am
Avatar for richard

I got a better one Diane how about we enforce our existing laws and deport them, they can sing whatever shit they want from their side of the border.

richard on April 28, 2006 at 08:11 am
Avatar for FreeRepublicans.com

Mexifornia.

FreeRepublicans.com on April 28, 2006 at 08:12 am
Avatar for realitybasedbob

I wonder what outrage our British forbearers had when Francis Scott Key stole their “Anacreon in Heaven” melody and made it our national anthem.

I find it an amazing act of naturalized patriotism for them to sing of their love and allegiance to their new country in their natural tongue.

Aren’t there any missing white girls in the news today?

 

 

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 08:19 am
Avatar for FreeRepublicans.com

I find it an amazing act of naturalized patriotism for them to sing of their love and allegiance to their new country in their natural tongue.

Then learn English.  Thats our language, don’t like it, go back home. 

FreeRepublicans.com on April 28, 2006 at 08:21 am
Avatar for realitybasedbob

You’re sounding a little French there, FreeR.

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 08:26 am
Avatar for robert108

I always lodge a complaint when I’m told to "press 1 for English".  This is not a Spanish-speaking country.  Period.

robert108 on April 28, 2006 at 08:31 am
Avatar for FreeRepublicans.com

Sorry Bob,

I’ve agreed with you in the past, and I’ll likely do the same in the future. 

But as I have argued in the oil threads, and others:  that people, corporations, and other entities that profit from the freedoms that this country has because of the good men that have died for those freedoms, should show an equal amount of Nationalistic Patriotism for this country.

That does not mean they have to give blanket support to our leaders.  It does mean that they must respect our laws and the way that we have always lived.

They are CHOOSING  to come to America.  With that choice a responsibility to respect the country that you seek to benifit from must follow.

Leave your flags and you chants at the border. 

Mix and coexist in society and you’ll be just fine. 

FreeRepublicans.com on April 28, 2006 at 08:32 am
Avatar for realitybasedbob

OK…

BTW the surgery went great and I am on crutches for 6 weeks

 

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 02:24 pm
Avatar for diane

I always lodge a complaint when I’m told to "press 1 for English".  This is not a Spanish-speaking country.  Period.

Si, senor.  (Spoken very nasally).

  that people, corporations, and other entities that profit from the freedoms that this country has because of the good men that have died for those freedoms, should show an equal amount of Nationalistic Patriotism for this country.

Yeah, kind of like we’re doing in Iraq, huh?

diane on April 28, 2006 at 03:27 pm
Avatar for Epicurus

realitybasedbob,

Nothing like these sorts of issues to bring out the xenophobia in conservatives.

Epicurus on April 28, 2006 at 03:31 pm
Avatar for Epicurus

BTW, hispanics are learning English at about the same pace as past groups of immigrants: http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=10487

Nothing like a cold splash of reality to dose xenophobic fears.

Epicurus on April 28, 2006 at 03:33 pm
Avatar for realitybasedbob

Yeah, and they don’t like foreigners either...

 

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 03:39 pm
Avatar for diane

Heck, they don’t even like White lifelong American citizens who disagree with them.

They appear to hate everyone but themselves equally to me.

diane on April 28, 2006 at 03:44 pm
Avatar for realitybasedbob

They do love the jingo though.

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 03:47 pm
Avatar for diane

Haven’t you heard, bob.  I’m on ‘Ignore’, even by you more genteel lib, commie, pinko, Dhimmi, Marxist parrots.

diane on April 28, 2006 at 03:53 pm
Avatar for robert108

Epi: Oh, yes!  To you, anyone who doesn’t want his country invaded by illegal immigrants is xenophobic.  Not very nuanced.

robert108 on April 28, 2006 at 03:54 pm
Avatar for diane

BTW, hispanics are learning English at about the same pace as past groups of immigrants:

The big difference is, they feel right at home since the names all around them remind them of the fact that this was once their homeland.  You know:  Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, ad infinitum.

Sure, there’s Solvang and all but still.....

 

LOL

diane on April 28, 2006 at 03:56 pm
Avatar for diane

I’ll bet Bobby108 boycotts all cities with Spanish names. LOL

diane on April 28, 2006 at 03:57 pm
Avatar for realitybasedbob

so cal girl?

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 03:58 pm
Avatar for diane

Si si, senor.  Sur de California.

 

diane on April 28, 2006 at 03:59 pm
Avatar for diane

Probably should get ready for all the fruit and nuts rehashed jokes now, eh?

diane on April 28, 2006 at 04:02 pm
Avatar for realitybasedbob

Es la mejor tierra del mundo, no?

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 04:02 pm
Avatar for diane

Como se dice ‘LOL’ en espanol?

diane on April 28, 2006 at 04:19 pm
Avatar for FreeRepublicans.com

Mi gato es muy grande.

FreeRepublicans.com on April 28, 2006 at 05:06 pm
Avatar for diane

Es la mejor tierra del mundo, no?

Yo creo California es numero one.

diane on April 28, 2006 at 05:08 pm
Avatar for realitybasedbob

Diet and exercise

 

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 05:09 pm
Avatar for diane

Please note I speak bilingualese.

 

diane on April 28, 2006 at 05:10 pm
Avatar for realitybasedbob

I have word translator

realitybasedbob on April 28, 2006 at 05:11 pm
Avatar for Zsa Zsa

I would trade occasionally hearing our National Anthem being sung in spanish, for adopting English as the official language of the United States…

Zsa Zsa on April 29, 2006 at 07:21 am
Avatar for diane

LOL Zsa, I can’t help but like ya, even though you called me a bitch.

 

diane on April 29, 2006 at 08:23 am
Avatar for Epicurus

robert108,

Oh, yes!  To you, anyone who doesn’t want his country invaded by illegal immigrants is xenophobic.  Not very nuanced.

Then make them the vast majority who come to the U.S. border legal and don’t complain about what language they speak!

Epicurus on April 29, 2006 at 09:08 am
Avatar for robert108

Epi:  Fantasy time again.  I have never objected to the language "they" speak.  I don’t speak that language, so if they come to my country and want to do useful work, they need to learn this language, as I would learn Spanish if I went to live in their country.  It just makes sense.  It is up to them to do what is necessary to make themselves legal.  It isn’t my job to take care of them.  They are not my children.  I object to the invasion of illegals and their trying to force their adopted language on me. 

As far as their invasion cr*p is concerned, they should really try to take over Spain.  The Spanish were the original invaders of mesoamerica and they already speak Spanish in Spain. 

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 09:36 am
Avatar for Zsa Zsa

Robert108...It makes sense to me.

Zsa Zsa on April 29, 2006 at 10:11 am
Avatar for robert108

Spanish is a European language, like English.  It’s not "native" to the southwest.

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 10:44 am
Avatar for Zsa Zsa

I have no objection to immigration. We need to allow more people from various parts of the world to enter our country legally, and become citizens more quickly than they can today. We need to speak one official language and pledge allegiance to one flag. We also need to enforce the immigration laws already on the books and not offer amnesties to those who have not proven themselves to be law abiding and willing to support themselves for a number of years.

Zsa Zsa on April 29, 2006 at 11:12 am
Avatar for robert108

"We need to allow more people from various parts of the world to enter our country legally, and become citizens more quickly than they can today."

I usually agree with you, zz, but not on this one.  It is our choice how many immigrants it makes sense to let in.  Whatever immigration we allow should be for the benefit of our country, and should be a decision made by reasoning, not emotion-based politics.  No one is entitled to come here. 

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Avatar for diane

I usually agree with you, zz, but not on this one.  It is our choice how many immigrants it makes sense to let in.  Whatever immigration we allow should be for the benefit of our country, and should be a decision made by reasoning, not emotion-based politics.  No one is entitled to come here. 

That’s the spirit, Bobby!!   Thinking like that is what made America great:

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY  

         The Statue of Liberty faces outward toward the nations. She holds aloft the torch of freedom, the flame of hope, the principle of equality for all people, the promise of the future. She holds this torch high in the daytime and during the night as well. She shines her light in the midst of darkness. Her strength is in her right arm and her right arm carries the strength of God. She represents hope to the hopeless, welcome to the poor and the meek. She faces outward toward the ocean; her lamp, a beacon on stormy seas. Behind and within her is the will of God, saying through her: "Welcome, my beloved children. Welcome to the Golden Door."

         Her vibration is increasingly needed when the sea of world events becomes more stormy, the waves higher. At a time of unrest her light seems reassuring, her presence, a guarantor of safety. At such time she represents liberty and fraternity - the gift of one nation to another, both valuing freedom. At a time of turbulence or upheaval her light is salvation, her countenance, protection. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Outdated pap, eh Bobby? 

diane on April 29, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Avatar for robert108

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century stuff.  You still clinging to that old stuff?

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Avatar for Bat One

It is customary to provide one’s audience with the citation for quotes used in postings and comments.

It’s call common courtesy… just in case you’d forgotten. 

Bat One on April 29, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Avatar for Zsa Zsa

Robert108...True, emotion plays some degree to my views. Sometimes where people are concerned, emotion is a basis for my views. I am funny that way. I certainly won’t pretend to have or know all the answers. I can only go on what I see around me. I do live in Texas and on a daily basis come in contact with many of the Mexican illegals no doubt. Good people! They need to become Americans and embrace our flag though. They can’t have it both ways, unless they have a work visa or whatever they are called??? And, they have got to learn english. At least enough to pass the test and to fit in.

Zsa Zsa on April 29, 2006 at 01:01 pm
Avatar for diane

teenth and Nineteenth Century stuff.  You still clinging to that old stuff?
robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 3:42 PM  You mean like the Constitution and old stuff like that (shall I give you the dates)?  You mean the documents our country is based on, Bobby?  Yeah, regardless of Bush’s disrespect for it, I kinda like to cling to the basics.  That’s the problem with NeoCONS.  They want to rewrite the rules to fit their agenda and some of us are concerned about that.Batty: Sorry about no source; it’s just something I had read and liked and didn’t keep the source for.   Nothing controversial....so I thought, until I found out how you folks really don’t agree with what’s on the front of the Statue of Liberty, think the Declaration of Independence is outdated, and like Bush, consider the Constitution an old piece of paper.

diane on April 29, 2006 at 01:25 pm
Avatar for robert108

The Constitution doesn’t mandate open borders. Tell me about "the documents our country is based on" that mandate open borders. Our President, unlike you lefties, respects the Constitution.  I’m not Jewish.  It is the lefties who are trying to rewrite the rules.  As usual, you are wrong about everything.  You just make it up out of leftie propaganda.

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 01:31 pm
Avatar for Epicurus

robert108.

I always lodge a complaint when I’m told to "press 1 for English".  This is not a Spanish-speaking country.  Period.

I take it you mean nothing by this. 

Epicurus on April 29, 2006 at 03:00 pm
Avatar for Epicurus

Zsa Zsa,

We need to speak one official language and pledge allegiance to one flag.

No thanks. 

We also need to enforce the immigration laws already on the books...

The current laws will only keep the current situation in place.

robert108,

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century stuff. 

Well, you must despise the Bible then, given its age.

The Constitution doesn’t mandate open borders. T

Which is beside the point.  You were arguing that the age of the quote somehow takes away from its veracity.  Your contention was fisked by placing the age of the Constitution before you. 

Epicurus on April 29, 2006 at 03:12 pm
Avatar for robert108

Epi: Even you must know that we wanted to attract immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries, thus the loose immigration policy of that time.  Things are different in this century.  Why do I need to tell you that?

Wrong again.  I don’t despise the Bible.

Wrong again.  Our old policy toward immigration has nothing to do with our present one, and especially not with illegal immigration now, which is really an invasion by land.  The Statue of Liberty welcomed those who came here by boat.  Too subtle a difference for you, I guess.

We already have European language:  English.  We don’t need another one: Spanish.  That is what I meant by that.  Is that so hard to understand?

Are you revealing yourself as being diane by answering my comments to her? 

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 04:06 pm
Avatar for Epicurus

robert108,

Even you must know that we wanted to attract immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries, thus the loose immigration policy of that time. 

No, there was as much resistance to immigration in the 19th century as there is today.  It was informed by the same sort of bigoted language and attitudes that we see today.  Indeed, the Republican party was in part created out this mileau.  

Things are different in this century.  Why do I need to tell you that?

No, things are the same today.

Wrong again.  I don’t despise the Bible.

You should despise it.  It is old after all. 

Our old policy toward immigration has nothing to do with our present one, and especially not with illegal immigration now, which is really an invasion by land. 

Yes, our current policy is informed by mercantilist, bigoted attitudes that were held in check in the 19th century.

The Statue of Liberty welcomed those who came here by boat.  Too subtle a difference for you, I guess.

We already have European language:  English.  We don’t need another one: Spanish.  That is what I meant by that.  Is that so hard to understand?

We need whatever language people choose to speak.  Freedom is something conservatives just don’t get.

 

Epicurus on April 29, 2006 at 04:18 pm
Avatar for diane

Oh..poor Bobby!  He’s not only just wrong, he’s becoming paranoid!!

Are you revealing yourself as being diane by answering my comments to her?

Booooo!! Surprise!!  Guess who..is it me or is it not me??

Our old policy toward immigration has nothing to do with our present one, and especially not with illegal immigration now, which is really an invasion by land.  The Statue of Liberty welcomed those who came here by boat.  Too subtle a difference for you, I guess.

One if by land, two if be sea.  LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.  Actually, Bobby, that wasn’t subtle at all.

diane on April 29, 2006 at 07:53 pm
Avatar for melissa

Then learn English.  Thats our language, don’t like it, go back home.  FreeRepublicans.com on April 28, 2006 at 11:21 AM Actually, the USA doesn’t have an offical language.

melissa on April 29, 2006 at 08:13 pm
Avatar for WETBACK

The Statue of Liberty is a whore, and that Give us your poor and tired crap was written by some jew and latter put on the Liberty, this wasnt the original plague France had given us.

WETBACK on April 29, 2006 at 08:14 pm
Avatar for robert108

melissa: Not by law, but by custom.  If you want to be successful here, you had better be good at English.

robert108 on April 29, 2006 at 08:21 pm
Avatar for Kay

If the lyrics were translated word for word then I would not have a problem, but they are NOT DONE that way.  Its amazing, you look at a sport like the World Cup and not one other country is looking to change there national anthem for those who do not speak the language.  So why should we?  You are in America--speak English.  Yes you make think that is harsh and I do not understand but I am Marrying into a Spanish Family who does not really speak English all that well but yet they know the words to the national anthem.

Same token--if you want to become a Mexican Citizen, one of there requirements is that you speak Spanish...HMMM Go Figure

Kay on June 27, 2006 at 07:15 am
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