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[elmono311]

 Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner' Draws Ire
By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ, Associated Press Writer
3 hours ago

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.

The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," comes out Friday and uses lyrics based closely on the English-language original, said Kidron, who heads the record label Urban Box Office.

Pro-immigration protests are planned around the country for Monday, and the record label is urging Hispanic radio stations nationwide to play the cut at 7 p.m. EDT Friday in a sign of solidarity.

A remix to be released in June will contain several lines in English that condemn U.S. immigration laws. Among them: "These kids have no parents, cause all of these mean laws ... let's not start a war with all these hard workers, they can't help where they were born."

Bryanna Bevens of Hanford, Calif., who writes for the immigration-focused Web magazine Vdare.com, said the remix particularly upset her.

"It's very whiny. If you want to say all those things, by all means, put them on your poster board, but don't put them on the national anthem," she said.

Kidron, a U.S. resident for 16 years, maintains the changes are fitting. After all, he notes, American immigrants borrowed the melody of the "Star Spangled Banner" from an English drinking song.

"There's no attempt to usurp anything. The intent is to communicate," Kidron said. "I wanted to show my thanks to these people who buy my records and listen to the music we release and do the jobs I don't want to do."

Kidron said the song also will be featured on the album "Somos Americanos," which will sell for $10, with $1 going to the National Capital Immigration Coalition, a Washington group.

James Gardner, an associate director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, said Americans have long enjoyed different interpretations of the Star Spangled Banner, including country or gospel arrangements.

"There are a number of renditions that people aren't happy with, but that's part of it _ that it means enough for people to try to sing," he said.

Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Perez, said this country was built by immigrants, and "the meaning of the American dream is in that record: struggle, freedom, opportunity, everything they are trying to shut down on us."



Uh, who cares if the melody was borrowed from an English drinking song? Was that song a national anthem? NO! They have their own anthem... the Mexican national anthem. And it's not the US's fault that those legal children of illegal immigrants are allowed to stay and the illegals have to leave. It's the illegals fault they came into this country illegally in the first place. Vengeance, you need to do something about your peeps.

[Vengeance]

What a bunch of B.S.!

I have NO problem with singing the Star Spangled Banner in English or Spanish or French or whatever. It's not like I think our version should be replaced, but why the hell can't it be translated? I'm not saying people shouldn't learn English for being in this country, but pride in the country you live in, regardless of your language should be encouraged not buried.

Bush is a fucking idiot and I'm sick of his superior attitude.

[disnut8]

I'm really split on this issue.  I'm just thinking of the many, many hockey games we attended with the Canadian anthem performed both in English and French.  And the US anthem was played as well.

There's nothing "wrong" with having a Spanish version.  Just don't play it before events.  Personally, if I find the Spanish version of our anthem balsted next Friday night, I'll respect that.

I think this whole immigrants issue is getting so out of hand.  Yes, America is an open country.  Just do it legally and be done with it.  That's the only problem as I see it.  I want to go to Disneyland Paris.  They don't speak English there.  AT ALL!  If I ever have the opportunity to go there, you better bet your ass I'm taking a course in elementary French.  I get so tired of having to choose a language to speak on the phone in this country.  It's America.  We don't even speak English.  We speak American.  Deal with it!

I am a Bush supporter so bear with me.  I think his comments were taken out of context.  I don't think he has a problem with the anthem being translated.  Just that people need to learn our language.  I don't find that very unreasonable.

And don't get me started on adding words to the anthem.  That's just plain out and flat WRONG!  Gee, anyone wonder why this is in the news the Friday before another protest on Monday, May 1st?  Sorry but the Repulicans and the Democrats aren't the only ones playing political games.

Flame away.

[Vengeance]

No flames. I agree no words should be added. I'm only annoyed with the translation idea not being a good one. I like the fact our anthem should be translated, not just for our citizens, but for the world.

And I'm not really okay with the idea that this is America so speak the language. That's kind of hard unless we want to learn every Native American language. Who decided the British get to be the originators of our language? It seems they took over a large chunk of Mexico at one point and also French controlled land so why can't we have citizens who speak English, American, Native American, French, and Spanish? Maybe all of us who are only able to speak one language should start to learn the rest.

Obviously I'm not going to try to say anything about Bush because disnut knows how I feel about him and why and that we're not going to change each others' mind.

The idea that we are in America so speak America is a popular concept and it seems we're the only country that feels that way about language. All other countries make it the norm to teach their children more than one language and there is no country that says, we just speak this and that's it. Well, no country but ours.

[elmono311]

We don't speak American. There's no such thing as a language called American. It's called American English. My main concern about the anthem thing was them added words to it.

When I was in Mexico, I did not go around rattling off English and expect them to understand me (although at one restaurant I went to, it said they spoke English so I tried that and they still didn't understand me...). I wouldn't have gone to Mexico in the first place without having someone who knew Spanish with me. But then you have these Hispanics coming here and expecting us to know what they're talking about in a primarily English speaking country. I know we don't have an official language here but there's a reason why they make you learn English when you immigrate here.

[disnut8]

And I'm not really okay with the idea that this is America so speak the language. That's kind of hard unless we want to learn every Native American language. Who decided the British get to be the originators of our language? It seems they took over a large chunk of Mexico at one point and also French controlled land so why can't we have citizens who speak English, American, Native American, French, and Spanish? Maybe all of us who are only able to speak one language should start to learn the rest.

The idea that we are in America so speak America is a popular concept and it seems we're the only country that feels that way about language. All other countries make it the norm to teach their children more than one language and there is no country that says, we just speak this and that's it. Well, no country but ours.

Maybe this is being misunderstood.  Speak whatever language you want whenever you want.  But learn American (English) as well.  That's my biggest problem.  And it's not a recent thing either.  Vengeance said other countries do teach other languages.  So does ours.  But our principle language should be American (English).  Call a Montreal hotel some time.  They answer in French.  They will switch to English very quickly.  Our next door neighbors here (we don't like them but for totally different reasons) speak Spanish to each other and their friends.  However, the kids (girl, about 14 and boy, about 17) speak perfect English.  Mom is very much duel.  Grandfather spoke broken English but he was understandable - he usually did Spanish.  Don't have a problem with that at all.  Just make American (English) one of the languages you speak.  If you live here, at least be able to ask your way to the bathroom or what time it is or be able to understand what the check out person at Kroger is telling you.

Like I said, if I ever go to Franch, I'll know those things.

[Vengeance]

Just make American (English) one of the languages you speak. If you live here, at least be able to ask your way to the bathroom or what time it is or be able to understand what the check out person at Kroger is telling you.

That makes sense to me. I just don't think Americans are as tolerant as the situation you're describing. I don't know many hotels here that will pick up the phone and answer in English and then be able to switch languages quickly when needed.

You're right that English should be a language (first or not) if you're living in a primarily English speaking country, but Americans don't seem to feel the same way. One of the reasons we've gotten the description of 'arrogant' is because of our tourists.

You may be decent enough to learn basic French if you're going to their country, but a lot of people wouldn't be.

The fact that our own President is bitching about the possibility of a Spanish speaking anthem ticks me off because watching his speech made me think he was just bitching about translating the anthem at all.

I just don't see the problem with spreading the idea of patriotism to all, regardless of their language. I'm just not seeing this as a way to enable people not to speak English. It's a song for God's sake. It seems to me the Spanish speaking population could be trying to translate more important things into Spanish, but instead they're supporting an anthem, something to declare they love this country, too. I'm not sure why Bush thinks that is a bad thing. And like I said, I'm getting this from watching his speech, not from an article or anything. Trust me...he was annoyed at the idea.

But going back to your example of Canada (since actually that country makes my point) I think they've got it together more than we do. Some of their population is English speaking and some is French speaking. There is no OFFICIAL language really. They may declare one, but they don't invest into it much. A lot of people speak both languages, but not all and that's not really a hassle to them. It's just how it is.

I think we should follow the example of their country, and most other countries who have large populations of different speaking people, and learn them both or at least let some people speak one without telling them they have to learn the 'official' language'.

Personally I think it's insulting to make English our official language because of the reasons I mentioned before. All the people who were Mexicans and living in Mexico when we just bought up the land and 'made' them Americans should never have been forced to learn English. This country should have pulled them in as a part of this country culture, language, and all.

If our country was suddenly taken over by France and we were told to leave our homes and move to the U.K. where they speak our language or stay here and learn a new one and basically look at our own language as something inferior just because it isn't the 'official' language anymore, we'd be pissed.

California, New Mexico, and other states out there maybe should expect us to speak Spanish when we're there. After all, those Mexicans didn't come to our country. We came to them. Maybe it's time our government acknowledged that and made Spanish AND English our official languages.

[disnut8]

Actually, hasn't the French speaking portion of Canada (Quebec) tried many times to secede from Canada?  They ain't that happy with the situation.

And I believe it's been said that the United States doesn't have an official language.  Not saying American (English) should be that language but what's the solution?  Right now, we have courses called English as a Second Language.  Maybe schools should start teaching Spanish as a Second Language?  And then you'd have people saying French should also be taught.  Or Ebonics.  Or Russian.  Or German.  Or Polish.  The list goes on and on because of everyone's heritage.  Not just Hispanics.  That's America.  We're all supposed to be equal.  How are we ever going to do that if we can't understand each other when we speak or write?

[elmono311]

A lot of people in Quebec consider the province as an occupied country. The reason why Canada is not willing to part with Quebec is because of the huge gap between the two parts of Canada which would make things a little more difficult. Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island would be isolated from the rest of the country. Of course, we can all say that Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico has gone on well enough being separated from the US so why can't Canada do the same? I'm sure Quebec would allow Canada to transport materials through.

Anyways, English is actually the business language. If you own an international business, you pretty much have to know how to speak English. I bet that's because of the British Empire back in the day forcing its language and influences on the conquered population. Some how, to this day, no one here can understand that Indian customer service rep...