Proponents of Spanish Anthem Point to Rice

[JEDIYoda]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060502/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/national_anthem

WASHINGTON - President Bush wants people to sing the national anthem in English only. Promoters of singing it in Spanish are pointing to comments by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ? and her department's Web site ? as ammunition for their side of the argument.

There are four Spanish versions on USINFO.State.gov, a multi-language Web site.

"I've heard the national anthem done in rap versions, country versions, classical versions," Rice said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation." "The individualization of the American national anthem is quite under way."

The State Department site for some time has offered translations of the U.S. Constitution, pledge of allegiance and other documents in French, Arabic and other foreign languages to help people understand America better.

This is what promoters say they had in mind with the Spanish anthem recording, which has drawn criticism from Internet bloggers.

Weighing in on Bush's side of the argument was Sen. Lamar Alexander (news, bio, voting record), R-Tenn., who introduced a resolution affirming that the song, pledge allegiance to the flag and other "statements of national unity" should be done in English.

When 'Nuestro Himno,' a Spanish version of the anthem, debuted last week, Bush said "people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

Gotta Love our President!!!!

 

[ericlp]

Uh, you agree on that? The whole friggen point is ... They don't want to be a citizen of this country. Why should they spend 10 grand to become a US citizen when doing what they are doing is working out for them?

Boosh is just a retarded idiot. I head the speech and it was WEAK. Why should they become a citizen when they can pump out 10 kids get free healthcare and education + make 8 bucks an hour tax free ... Become a citizen? Are you F'en nuts? What for? So you can pay into a SS Scam and anytime you want to see the doctor or get your teeth fixed you got to PAY some MORE? The more I think about it the better it sounds........Plus I am sure you can get assisted living and food stamps to boot! Not to mention all the other free benifits the goverment and state hands out.

Where do I sign up?

 

[Rainsford]

Who gives a flying crap? What impact does it have on your life if people want to sing the national anthem in their own language?

I truly don't understand issues like this. Is Bush right? I think so, but on the list of things to get your undies in a twist about, I can't imagine this should break the top 100.

 

[JackStorm]

Heh...Why is this even an issue at all? It's not like English is the official language or anything.

 

[Jeff7]

Bush said "people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

Whaddaya know....I actually agree with him on something.

You're in the US now. Learn English (or American, whatever it's technically called now.)

 

[Future Shock]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Bush said "people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

Whaddaya know....I actually agree with him on something.

You're in the US now. Learn English (or American, whatever it's technically called now.)

WOW - a first instance of agreeing with Bush Jr.!

Seriously, you CANNOT be an effective, productive economic power if you fragment your population into multiple language speaking groups. As the freakin' EU, ask China, ask Quebec for Pete's sake. In each of these places a very real economic cost is being borne simply due to language proliferation.

The US DID NOT have this problem 25 years ago - and it is something the US can avoid by requiring the use of a common language. A common, legislated language is the ONLY way to avoid ghettoization of large segments of the population.

English or Chinese, the US needs to take your pick - they will both be the languages of business for the next 200 years...

Future Shock

 

[eits]

this is the only time i can agree with what bush said... the national anthem should be in english and if you want to learn english to sing it, by all means, go for it.

the national anthem means dick to me... i don't see why immigrants would really give a fvck. all they want is a better life... not to join a frigging choir and sing the national anthem.

maybe they want to learn more about jose and why he can't see...

 

[shurato]

National Anthem should be in english. This is utter BS. I am an immigrant, didn't know a lick of english when I came to this country, I took ESOL for many years in elementary school, I LEARNED FLUENT ENGLISH BECAUSE I LIVE IN FRIGGIN AMERICA!!! This really pisses me off and yes I agree with Bush on this one. Sing it in our god damn language or don't sing it.

 

[Slew Foot]

The problem is that its not a direct translation, but rather has a a bunch of lines of immigrant propaganda in it.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
The problem is that its not a direct translation, but rather has a a bunch of lines of immigrant propaganda in it.

So people can sign what ever they want. It is a free country.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Bush said "people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

Whaddaya know....I actually agree with him on something.

You're in the US now. Learn English (or American, whatever it's technically called now.)

Bush speaks English? News to me.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
The problem is that its not a direct translation, but rather has a a bunch of lines of immigrant propaganda in it.

Isn't that some "modified" version running around...not the official, un-official translation?

 

[BlancoNino]

My city just had a march of several thousand protestors of illegal-immigration reform. It was really nice getting my front license plate kicked by mexican children even though I was only driving home and not drawing any attention to myself.

I think this reform is great. My ancestors immigrated and learned english without the government familiarizing itself with their language and customs. My ancestors immigrated and eventually became economically and socially productive without government hand-outs either.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Future Shock

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Bush said "people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

Whaddaya know....I actually agree with him on something.

You're in the US now. Learn English (or American, whatever it's technically called now.)

WOW - a first instance of agreeing with Bush Jr.!

Seriously, you CANNOT be an effective, productive economic power if you fragment your population into multiple language speaking groups. As the freakin' EU, ask China, ask Quebec for Pete's sake. In each of these places a very real economic cost is being borne simply due to language proliferation.

The US DID NOT have this problem 25 years ago - and it is something the US can avoid by requiring the use of a common language. A common, legislated language is the ONLY way to avoid ghettoization of large segments of the population.

English or Chinese, the US needs to take your pick - they will both be the languages of business for the next 200 years...

Future Shock

You're leaving out hindi.

 

[CellarDoor]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Who gives a flying crap? What impact does it have on your life if people want to sing the national anthem in their own language?

I truly don't understand issues like this. Is Bush right? I think so, but on the list of things to get your undies in a twist about, I can't imagine this should break the top 100.

My thoughts exactly. Reminds me of the whole "in god we trust" debate. I could care less either way. There are much more important things to worry about.

 

[judasmachine]

it's not like they are insisting everyone sing it in spanish. it's also not like they are trying to make it the official national anthem. sheesh these people need to relax.

 

[trenchfoot]

if anything, the "re-writing" of our national anthem may be viewed by many as a "sacriligeous act" that is perverting our national identity. it can be viewed as an integral part of a perceived threat (real or unreal) that a very large and well-organized group of "illegal foreign nationals" in the millions appeared out of nowhere and are now suddenly in our midst and are dictating terms to their host government as to what the "new order" of this nation will be in accordance with their agenda.

there is also the perceived notion that the very underpinnings of our nation is under threat from these "illegal foreign nationals" and that these foreigners are hell-bent on forcing unwanted changes upon the traditional values that constitute the core identity of this country.

given that scenario, i'd say the pro-immigrant demonstrations may have woke up alot of these feelings in folks and are now forcing them to take sides on the issue out of fear. this situation is just beginning to expose some teeth shown in anger. if this whole situation is not kept within proper perspective, it can easily lead down a destructive path.

taken out of rove's playbook, fear sells well, and the people up on the hill should all know this, so it would behoove them to start putting personal ambitions aside and seriously look at what can happen before the extremists get ahold of the national concience.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

Originally posted by: shurato
National Anthem should be in english. This is utter BS. I am an immigrant, didn't know a lick of english when I came to this country, I took ESOL for many years in elementary school, I LEARNED FLUENT ENGLISH BECAUSE I LIVE IN FRIGGIN AMERICA!!! This really pisses me off and yes I agree with Bush on this one. Sing it in our god damn language or don't sing it.

Did I miss something? Was there legislation proposed to convert the national anthem to spanish? Smack Down said, "It's a free country". Try to think about ways to keep it that way.

I have watched a little spanish language TV. I was amused at how many ads there were for learning english products.