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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
I hate our national anthem. It's boring, screechy, difficult for even a trained voice, militaristic and just a poor anthem for a great nation. I'm for changing it to "America The Beautiful," and anyone who wants to write foreign-language versions is fine by me.
It seems hypocritical to be up in arms about this, considering that we rewrote the English national anthem, God Save the Queen, as My Country 'tis of Thee.
I agree with Zaynab, that languages are fluid. I think everyone should learn other languages, but I could no more get angry at someone who finds English difficult than I could if we communicated using trigonometry, and people who weren't handy with math found it hard to study.
I got into this debate with a colleague at work who thought singing the anthem in Spanish was despicable.
"Despicable" was exactly the word that Francis Scott Key's descendant used (maybe your coworker saw the news report and was unconsciously ripping off the quote). He practically had spittle flying in his anger over this.
The national anthem and the flag are symbols. They mean nothing compared to the freedom to peaceably assemble, to petition the government for a redress of grievances, or to speak (or sing) freely.
I agree that "The Star-Spangled Banner" is completely atrocious and unsingable. However, I can only think of one other popular patriotic song that doesn't mention God - "This Land is Your Land." And we all know that there are some people who would never ever agree to sing that "hippie music."
I would rather have a song that is hard to listen to than implicitly condone the combining of church and state.
So apparently they did not think this was a big deal either, until now.
http://usinfo.state.gov/esp/home/topics/us_society_values/national_symbols/anthem_spanish.html
America had been a country for 150 years before Scott Off-Key's abomination was foisted on us as an anthem. Jefferson didn't write it; neither did Madison. It's nothing but an affectation in any language. This Land is Your Land comes far closer to expressing the national spirit in the way Lincoln, Whitman, and Roosevelt (either will do) did. Woody Guthrie was most emphatically NOT a hippie. Read some fuggin' history.
I followed a link to the "Spanish anthem". The tune is the same and some of the phrases are the same, but other lyrics (based on my admittedly rusty Spanish) were closer to the French national anthem (a call to arms) than the Star Spangled Banner.
I wouldn't have much concern about a true translation (with a little massaging for rhythm and rhyme). But that's not what I read...and I am concerned.
then how do you explain the fact that our very own State Department has FOUR different translations on their official website? Four. I imagine each one is slightly different. And they're clearly sanctioned by the Bush Administration - they run the State Dept.
It's sad that Republicans can always count on bigotry to rally their base. First, it was gay marriage. Now, it's the national anthem in Spanish/illegal immigration. I wonder what we have to look forward to as the election draws nearer.
I don't think it's unreasonable to think that one day, we
might have more than one official language in the US. First
candidate is obviously Spanish.
Just a quick point - the USA has no official language. Our default
language is English (those in Great Britain would call it
'American') but we have never had an official legal language.
English can't possibly be the national language. Look what's Preznit of Murka!
Less than half a percent (and I'd venture to say "much less") of the US population knows the second verse of the Star Spanlged Banner, let alone the whole thing.
This includes Atheist in CO... Sorry to disappoint you, but it does mention God.
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
Not exactly an atheist sentiment there.
National Anthem Sung In Spanish At First Bush Inaugural
On Friday, President Bush blasted the idea of singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. But Bush’s highly-scripted 2001 inaugural ceremony actually featured a rendition of the national anthem sung in Spanish by Jon Secada. From Cox News Service, 1/18/01:
The opening ceremony reflected that sentiment. A racially diverse string of famous and once famous performers entertained Bush, soon-to-be First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney and his wife, Lynne, who watched on stage from a special viewing area.
Pop star Jon Secada sang the national anthem in English and Spanish.
Apparently, Secada singing the anthem in Spanish was a regular feature of the Bush campaign. From the 8/3/00 Miami Herald:
The nominee, his wife Laura, erstwhile rival John McCain and his wife Cindy joined Bush on a platform where children sang the national anthem - in “Spanglish,” Secada explained.
This morning, ThinkProgress revealed that, according to Kevin Phillip’s book American Dynasty, Bush himself sang the national anthem in Spanish. Looks like Bush’s conviction that “the national anthem ought to be sung in English” was something he acquired very recently.
How hard can this be to understand for some of you?
You can take your driver's license test in almost any language, you can testify in court in any language and the court has to find you an interpreter, for free (which feeds a great cottage industry of immigrants who work as translators). Government documents are printed in many languages.
Sorry people. That's the way it is. If you want to change it, get a constitutional amendment. That went really well with flag-burning, so you should try with this too. ;)
Would someone please tell me what they are supposed to do in Puerto Rico? Its part of the US of A! It may yet become the 51st state. The people there a born citizens of our country. And, they speak Spanish. Wnen they attend a baseball game, a common event, will they be required to sing in English?
And, if we want a really neat new national anthem, how about "Lift Every Voice and Sing?" It really rocks.
Ken
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