And now, from the "Spanish or English?" files and Yahoo! News...

Sudiegirl sez: You know what? This is a double edged sword.

I mean, it takes time to learn a new language. That's why they call it "Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III", etc. I consider myself a good American, and I’d rather hear someone sing the National Anthem in their own language and understand what it means than learn it phonetically and not know what they’re saying.

If I were in another country and asked to sing their national anthem, I would ask them if they wanted me to learn it in their native language or in my language so I could give more passion to the song.

Hell, I’d be open to doing it twice…once in their language and once in my native tongue. What’s the harm? The important thing is that whoever is singing it needs to understand what they’re singing and why. Comments will be interspersed, and some will be respectful.

Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner' Draws Ire
Fri Apr 28, 5:14 AM ET

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. (Trivia: the melody for the Star-Spangled Banner is a British drinking song called “To Anaechron in Heaven”. So to all those American people that don’t like the high notes and octave jumps, you have the British to blame.)

But in the week since Kidron announced the song which features artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull (pictured at right) 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. (Do the words “Get Over It” mean anything to these protesters? It’s a done deal.)

"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. (How do you know? Have you asked them?)

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. (If there is a music download file that can be accessed, fair readers, let me know where.)

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." (That might be tricky…but maybe not.)

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. (I'd have to say I agree - not the best approach.).

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. (See? See?)

"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." (Fair enough to me…and a lot of people don’t think about that aspect of life.)

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. (Way to edge out MENC’s National Anthem Project, Gardner. Ya schmuck.)

"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. (I agree…although I do have a headache with ol’ Steven Tyler throwing in “and the home of the Indianapolis 500”. That was cheesy…a shameless commercial plug.)

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." (That’s also true…and if you LISTEN to the words of the anthem, one thing you learn is that the lyrics aren’t taking place in an idyllic meadow where lions and lambs are lying down together. No…there’s explosions and warfare. It’s a metaphor for the struggles our country endures, and continues to endure. If it’s easier for someone to express love for their country in their native tongue instead of their new language, let ‘em do it. It doesn’t take away the love I have for my country, but increases it.)
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Associated Press writer Suzette Laboy in Miami contributed to this report.
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On the Net:
Song history by National Museum of American History:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/6_thestory/6b_osay/fs6b.html

Of course, our esteemed brain trust of a president has his own view on this…take it away, Dubya!

Bush Says Anthem Should Be in English
(He also says “sammich” and “nucular”. Do you really want to trust HIS judgment?)

By JEANNINE AVERSA,
AP Economics Writer 38 minutes ago

The national anthem should be sung in English — not Spanish — President Bush declared Friday, amid growing restlessness over the millions of immigrants here illegally. (Apparently, he hasn’t read the daily reports about his approval rating dropping like a hot rock.)

"One of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue, that we not lose our national soul," the president exclaimed. "One of the great things about America is that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us." (Who says singing the National Anthem in Spanish is going to rip our country asunder? President Bush, at least, could sing it in both languages since he can speak Spanish and English! Whether or not he can sing in either language is the mystery.)

A Spanish language version of the national anthem was released Friday by a British music producer, Adam Kidron, who said he wanted to honor America's immigrants.

When the president was asked at a Rose Garden question-and-answer session whether the anthem should be sung in Spanish, he replied: "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think 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." (I agree that if they’re going to live here they should learn English. However, English is a hard language to learn for foreign speakers; one of the hardest, I’ve heard. Does that mean that they should be embarrassed in their new home country, trip over the words of the song, then feel like they can’t sing it right? And the way he phrased that statement – it sounds like they’re going to have to be tested on their English singing skills as well as their knowledge of American history and American government. Why doesn’t he go hunting with Dick Cheney already and just get it over with?)

He made his remarks on the matters during a wide-ranging briefing with reporters.
"I think people who want to be citizens of this country ought to learn English," Bush said. (Yes, they should. Personally, I think that everyone who has a beef with immigrants not speaking English need to tutor them. I’m willing to do it…)

The president's comments came amid a burgeoning national debate — and congressional fight — over legislation pending in Congress, and pushed by Bush, to overhaul U.S. immigration law.

Bush called on lawmakers to move forward on legislation — now stalled — that would revamp immigration laws.

"I want a comprehensive bill," Bush said that includes enforcement as well as giving temporary worker status to some illegal immigrants.

Large numbers of immigrant groups have planned an economic boycott next week to dramatize their call for legislation providing legal status for millions of people in the United States illegally.

"You know, I'm not a supporter of boycotts," Bush said. (I’ll bet you dollars to donuts he can’t spell “boycott” either.) "I am a supporter of comprehensive immigration ... I think most Americans agree that we've got to enforce our border. I don't think there's any question about that."

His remarks followed release of the Spanish language version of the song, called "Nuestro Himno" or "Our Anthem."

Sudiegirl’s final opinion?

D and I debate this point about immigration time and time again. I’m tired of the argument. My feeling is, if they want to come here and work, let them do so LEGALLY. Our ancestors were in the same position when they emigrated here from various countries. I think it should be done in a lawful manner, and if there’s anything I can do to help newcomers to this country assimilate, I will do so. That’s what that big statue of the broad in the bedsheet sitting in the New York harbor is supposed to represent.

But arguing over whether the anthem should be sung in English or Spanish is moot if people don’t know the anthem in the first place. That’s step one.

Step two? I’ve sung in different languages, and it’s a challenge. Why? If you’re not acquainted with the language you’re going to sing in, there’s so many things that can go wrong. If people of other cultures are told about what the anthem means, and given a good, reliable translation of the words in their native tongue, they’re going to appreciate their country that much more. They’ll be able to understand it in their original language, and then they can learn it in their new language once they have the skill level to interpret it.

What’s the big damn deal?

America needs to get over itself sometimes.

Sudiegirl
(who doesn’t have the readership to be vilified for her opinions anyway, so she’ll say whatever she damn well pleases!)