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Star Spangled Banner in Spanish

Category Politics

I just saw on the morning news (no links yet on CNN, MSNBC, or FOX News) a story that a group of musicians has released a version of the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. Sorry, I don't have any names; I walked in after that part of the story.

Anyway, the story went on to cover how several politicians are upset that the song is being sung in Spanish, not English. One (again, I don't have any names yet) is even introducing a bill to Congress that requires that the Star Spangled Banner be sung in English. To all of this I have but one thing to say: SHUT THE HELL UP!

Yes, I think that demonstrating competence in English, both written and spoken, should be a requirement of becoming a United States Citizen. But if you want to record, sing, or just play the National Anthem in your native tongue; then please, go right ahead.

Sometimes the right wing really, really embarrasses me.

-Devin

Posted by Devin Olson On 05/02/2006 | Permalink

Comments

1 - Hey, I guess if they can't interfere with some family's private medical decisions, they have to become music critics. *sigh* Heaven forbid they should, oh I don't know, do their freaking jobs...

A very wise, but ever-so-slightly bitter, man once said: we get the politicians we deserve.

Posted by Rob McDonagh At 12:15:53 PM On 05/02/2006 | - Website - |

2 - Guess who was singing the national anthem in Spanish during the 2000 campaign?

Yep, it was W

There's a brief story here:

https://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/02/bush-sing-spanish/

That references a book called "American Dynasty".

Posted by Bruce Perry At 11:20:54 AM On 05/03/2006 | - Website - |

3 - In my opinion, I think it was less about singing the National Anthem in Spanish and more about changing the words of the National Anthem. As I recall, the translation of the Spanish version that was recorded is a bit different. If it can be sung in Spanish without changing the words, great! If the words have been changed, well...then...it's not really the National Anthem any more.

Posted by Kollapse At 09:29:15 AM On 05/04/2006 | - Website - |

4 - Ever heard the Canadian National Anthem sung in French (which happens to be how they sing it in Quebec)? Some of the words MUST be changed to keep the meaning. That's ultimately the point, isn't it?

Posted by Kristina Klein At 11:26:42 PM On 05/06/2006 | - Website - |

5 - It's worth noting that the original Canadian anthem was in French, and had to be translated into English... ;)

Posted by MK At 06:59:18 PM On 12/17/2006 | - Website - |