Ummm how about no. I'm a language major. I am all for everyone learning Spanish and french and what not in this country. In fact I think it should start when we are young. But a spanish anthem, no offense, we speak english. It's our main language. If you have been in America for 40 years and know no english, start learning. Any other country would find it rude for us to not learn the language of the country we lived in but America goes and babies any one who speaks a different language. Teach them English. Don't teach them in Spanish unless it's a Spanish class. I respect any one of a different culture and background but hey a great majority of the people in other countries speak english as a second language to their primary country's language. Do we see them singing their national anthems in english? No, because it's not the language of it's forefathers and because generally you can't get by in a foreign country unless you learn the language. Yes America was built on tons of people from different walks of life but really most of them were some sort of english speaking group minus the Dutch York. THomas Jefferson and George Washington, Lincoln would not sing our anthem in Spanish. I thank Bush for his wonderful, "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." Thank you President Bush, if for nothing else I thank you I give you full credit for that. Ok done now. Feel better. Whew.
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I think that the national anthem of any country should be song in the language it was originally written in. I do however think that citizens of that country who speak other languages should be allowed to pay tribute to their country in their own language also. I feel that as individuals they should be allowed to sing the national anthem in their language, but it should still only be song in english on public address's and mass communications.
Zakalisss
"True power is not killing someone because you can, true power is when you do not kill someone even when you could"
That's not exactly true. When you learn a language, you also learn the culture in that language. Culture is just as important for language because it is the background of that language. To think that this is America so we should speak English is somewhat ignorant. America is made up of many different languages and cultures. English is not the only language in America. To say that we should not sing the national anthem in Spanish is somewhat disrespectul and hurtful to Spanish people. Many languages make up America, and we should embrace them instead of shunning them.
i understand what you are saying. I agree we should embrace the cultures and learn about them and I am not sayingthat the only language that american citizens should speak should be english I'm saying they should have the ability to speak english along with their primary or mother language. I would never shun any race or ethnicity for a lnguage barrier, I am happy to learn about other languages/cultures and often I attempt to converse in spanish with those who speak spanish. I do my best to learn from them as well.
I am not saying it shouldn't be sung in Spanish because they "shouldn't be in america" or "should only speak in english all the time" or anything of the sort. It was written in english, it was actually originally written as a poem by Francis Scott Key then put to the tune of a partriotic song by the english I forget the exact name of the song after he witnessed a battle during the war of 1812. It didn't become our national anthem until the early 1930s alas I do not remember the actual date, it has 4 verses but normally we only sing the first one in our national anthem though i have heard more than that verse used before. and as for freedom, that definition really depends on the person view of freedom. i mean there's the technical "ability to make choice's for oneself and not be bound." or whatnot but freedom is kind of like beauty, it's in the eyes of the beholder.
First off, Bush used the anthem in Spanish when he was trying to get the hispanic vote:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/414279p-350223c.html
So his comment does mean crap to a tree. Second, his wife actually disagreed with him.
Look at my post about this: http://www.progressiveu.org/160000-immigration-wars-the-anthem-strikes-back
Take the little quiz, and if you get them all right then you can talk about who can sing the national anthem and what language it can be sung in. If you can't walk the walk, don't talk the talk.
It actually wasn't the anthem it's was God Bless America in Spanish or something. I forget what paper it was that wrote an article saying it was the anthem but they revoked that and said it was actually God Bless America or something along those lines.
I think this is America the land of the free. I think we speak English and anyone who wants to become American should have to speak English also. I wouldn't go to Russia and expect them to change everything for me just because I wanted to become a member of their country but can't speak of word in their language, it's crazy to think that you don't have to learn the language of the country you wish to live in.
I so agree with you.
...amusing that you care so much.
Insert Shameless Self-Promotion Here -- http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ada-castellon
"THomas Jefferson and George Washington, Lincoln would not sing our anthem in Spanish"
Hahaha...so where should I start about whats wrong with that line?
"Education...is our best protection against unreasoning prejudice and panic-making fear." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
See my blog and I'll love you forever! Or at least temporarily: www.progressiveu.org/blog/npsm18
?Jose can you si?
What's so bad about singing it in Spanish? The english one won't cease to exist.
Denken. Nicht lesen.
I am okay with the Spanish Anthem, if it was played in a different language, I would not mind whatsoever. english is not the official language of the USA, USA does not have an official language, so for one to say to learn or speak the official language of America, it would be nonsense in a way. Though, I do understand that English is one of the major languages spoken in the states it is not the official language. Since USA is a democratic country it does not have an official language, not to say that being Democracy has to do anything with language. I believe that hearing ones national anthem in a different language is a beautiful thing for one to do or listen to. One is able to experience their glory with others. Anyways USA, at least most of North America was not founded with by English speakers, it was founded by different cultures.
I don't really think it matters what language the song is sung in....if people want to rewrite tributes to America in other languages, go for it. I only have an issue if I am forced to learn it in another language. I will probably also disagree if it is going to be sung in a different language at the beginning of a baseball game, unless the baseball game is held in a different country, that is.