The National Anthem...in Spanish?

[bluethunder]

Perhaps you all haven't heard about this, but I wanted to get some feedback on this:

I live in Miami and the city (along with South Florida in general) has a very strong Latino influence and bilingualism has always been a hot topic down here...

at any rate, some Latin producers re-worked the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, and had it sang in Spanish. The melody is pretty much the same, but it is sang in Spanish. Now, when the Spanish version is translated, it really does change the original words of the song and a lot of what it translates to isn't exactly what the original lyrics imply... but still it has sparked a LOT of controversy. President Bush responded to it at a press conference and said that the National Anthem should be sang in English and that anyone who wanted to be a citizen should learn English...chiming in with other members of the community who believe it should be sang strictly in English...
but then some members of the Latino population are saying that this is discrimination against them as Latinos and that the translation celebrates America and that as a nation built on immigrants we should actually be embracing the new translation of the song...

what do you all think?

Any thoughts on bilingualism?

[Taualumna]

[hijack]

In Canada, our national anthem is in both French and English (our official languages), and yes, the translation isn't EXACTLY the same. However, I would be upset if they came out with a Chinese translation (for example)

[/hijack]

[PearlRuby]

Originally posted by bluethunder

Perhaps you all haven't heard about this, but I wanted to get some feedback on this:

I live in Miami and the city (along with South Florida in general) has a very strong Latino influence and bilingualism has always been a hot topic down here...

at any rate, some Latin producers re-worked the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, and had it sang in Spanish. The melody is pretty much the same, but it is sang in Spanish. Now, when the Spanish version is translated, it really does change the original words of the song and a lot of what it translates to isn't exactly what the original lyrics imply... but still it has sparked a LOT of controversy. President Bush responded to it at a press conference and said that the National Anthem should be sang in English and that anyone who wanted to be a citizen should learn English...chiming in with other members of the community who believe it should be sang strictly in English...
but then some members of the Latino population are saying that this is discrimination against them as Latinos and that the translation celebrates America and that as a nation built on immigrants we should actually be embracing the new translation of the song...

what do you all think?

Any thoughts on bilingualism?

Hmm. Interesting. On one hand, I see no problem with it, considering the many contributions that people of Latino heritage have made to our country. I think the bilingualism celebrates the fact that we welcome other cultures into our country. Much of the U.S. was built on the backs of slaves and immigrants who worked for this country.

On the other hand, considering the many different ethnic groups represented in America, if a Spanish version of our national anthem was accepted and implemented, would it then open the door for every group to have their own version of our national anthem in their own language? A Chinese, Japanese, Indian, ect., version? And if so, how would people feel about this?

I do think it's important for those living in America to learn English. Just as when I visited France a couple of years ago, I communicated in French (using a book of course) and I expected that I would have to fit into their culture, and speak their language, not the other way around.

[ZetaStorm]

This is all ironic to me. This country was stolen from Native Americans and many of these 'immigrants' are descendants of those same Native Americans. Talk about Karma or whatever you want to call it. On a news report Friday a reporter said that the translation of the spanish version of the anthem sounds like Latinos are saying that they aren't going anywhere.

On a lighter note though, Americans barely know the words of the english version let alone being able to sing it. A spanish version? (uh oh!)

There's a thread in the Alphas forum that is very interesting.....

AN EXCERPT FROM THE FORUM...>>>>>>>>


(Lou Dobbs, Chief CNN DUMBASS)
Open letter to CNN and other mainstream US media outlets:

1. The vast majority of Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. (75 percent of us) were born and raised here, including many of us who have roots here that predate the arrival of the pilgrims......



6. You can be a Mexican American and never have had an ancestor come over the US border; vast portions of the United States of today USED TO BE MEXICO or SPAIN. If you failed to learn this in high school, your teachers should be fired....



12. The following are also Spanish names: California, Arizona, Florida, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Las Vegas. Why does CNN allow states, cities and rivers with Spanish names to be American, while disallowing American people with Spanish names the same right...? Mister Dobbs, you may no longer say the names of most states in the United States, because only thirteen U.S. states have English names; the rest are Spanish, French, or Native American. English-only, sir. Your rule, eh? Make up new names, change your ridiculous rhetoric, or stop talking about Los Angeles altogether....


14. Please remember that the least legal and least assimilable of American immigrants were...the English. And the only people who can claim to be true "Americans" are Native Americans....

15. Most Mexicans are Native Americans......

All best,

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by PearlRuby
Hmm. Interesting. On one hand, I see no problem with it, considering the many contributions that people of Latino heritage have made to our country. I think the bilingualism celebrates the fact that we welcome other cultures into our country. Much of the U.S. was built on the backs of slaves and immigrants who worked for this country.

On the other hand, considering the many different ethnic groups represented in America, if a Spanish version of our national anthem was accepted and implemented, would it then open the door for every group to have their own version of our national anthem in their own language? A Chinese, Japanese, Indian, ect., version? And if so, how would people feel about this?

I do think it's important for those living in America to learn English. Just as when I visited France a couple of years ago, I communicated in French (using a book of course) and I expected that I would have to fit into their culture, and speak their language, not the other way around.

You echo my sentiments.

[TonyB06]

I'm with ZetaStorm on the irony of this. But I'm still trying to figure it out operationally -- where are these versions allowed to be "officially" sung? why is someone protesting because the anthem is translated and sung in someone's native tongue--isn't that gesture a "compliment?" and is someone supposed to bust in if you're singing the "unapproved" version? (where is P-Diddy when you need em).

I've attended several NAACP events over the years and I've yet to hear the national anthem sung. It's always "Lift Ev'ry Voice" that's sung.

maybe I need more info, because I just don't see the controversy here.

[Strongbeauty]

I see why people would be offended. If anyone has ever lived in south Florida then you know that for one bilingualism, isn't truly bilingualism because usually they are referring to Spanish and English and not English and another language. For example I knew someone who applied for a job that requested someone be bilingual who spoke German... when they got the interview they were told the job really wanted someone to speak Spanish. Now why not just say that in the ad?

I think the song should be song in English because if you were to go to Cuba, what are the chances that they are going to sing their national anthem in English? I have traveled to other countries and as much as people want to say that the US is intolerate of others, I saw things differently. There were places that people wouldn't even acknowledge us (I went with a group in high school) until we at least tried to speak their language. In some ways I agree with that, but at the same time, when an American does that, it's seen as bigotry.
Another thing is that their are more ethnic groups in the US than Hispanics. South Florida has a large Haitian population as well, yet there is not much talk of translating things into Kreole. There's also a lot of Brazilian people yet we arent having this conversation about Porteguese. By changing the words in the song (I know some things don't translate smoothly), you change the meaning. This can be especially true in English because words that may seem similar can have totally different meanings.

[jojapeach]

Strongbeauty: I agree with your view.

The scary part is that I agree with Dubya: If you come over to the States, you should learn to speak English. The American national anthem should be sung in English.

By all means, if you leave your home country to go somewhere else, you should retain your culture, your heritage, and all that ties you to home. The problem is going somewhere else and not making a successful adaptation to your new location. What do I look like moving to Mexico, Ghana, Thailand, etc., but I expect to never learn the language as long as I'm there? Keep your culture, but learn the language. "When in Rome, do as Romans do."

Now, it is nice that there are Latinos that love this country and translated it into a complimentary version of the anthem. If they are saying "we aren't going anywhere" like another poster said, then more power to them! It's nothing but the truth. Quite honestly, I would rather hear the English version whether it's sung by a country, rock, or R&B artist.

It's not completely controversial when you consider the immigration laws are a vastly more important issue. I feel like T.I. on this one (in a radio interview; who knew he had an opinion?): Apply to be here legally like other immigrants do, and everything is gravy.

[f8nacn]

Not to sound ignorant or anything, but I believe that because there is "Lift Every Voice and Sing" for African Americans/Blacks, someone could have written a song specifically for the Hispanic/Latino country.

Yes this country was built on the backs of slaves and immigrants; however, those were our beginning days when laws weren't in place. My mother married a man from another country and had to go through the right channels (i.e. INS - Immigration and Naturalization Services) in order for him to live in the United States legally.

History is one thing, but when you break laws, you should be forced to leave. If a boat gets turned around from Haiti, what gives Mexicans the right to jump the border illegally. We are wrong for hiring people for "day work" and paying them behind closed doors. Just think, here we are paying taxes out of our pay checks when they are living here tax-free because they get paid in CASH! Not fair...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by bluethunder
Perhaps you all haven't heard about this, but I wanted to get some feedback on this:

I live in Miami and the city (along with South Florida in general) has a very strong Latino influence and bilingualism has always been a hot topic down here...

at any rate, some Latin producers re-worked the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, and had it sang in Spanish. The melody is pretty much the same, but it is sang in Spanish. Now, when the Spanish version is translated, it really does change the original words of the song and a lot of what it translates to isn't exactly what the original lyrics imply... but still it has sparked a LOT of controversy. President Bush responded to it at a press conference and said that the National Anthem should be sang in English and that anyone who wanted to be a citizen should learn English...chiming in with other members of the community who believe it should be sang strictly in English...
but then some members of the Latino population are saying that this is discrimination against them as Latinos and that the translation celebrates America and that as a nation built on immigrants we should actually be embracing the new translation of the song...

what do you all think?

Any thoughts on bilingualism?

Here is my $0.03:

English is a very difficult language, as shown by this Original poster (I'm guessing English is their first language), who used the word "sang" instead of the correct "sung" every time. I am reminded of it every day as I continue to work with my husband, who is Mexican, on his English. I don't believe in "You're in America, speak English", for many reasons. One reason being that "America" has no official language.

HOWEVER, just as when I was taking French in High school, I learned the French National Anthem in French, I believe that "The Star Spangled Banner" should be sung in English. I have no problem with having translations for those who don't speak English to understand the meaning. Heck, I bet at least 7 out 10 English speaking high school grads couldn't explain the whole anthem's meaning to someone. But, the song should be sung in English.

Also, just as another explanation to my point, I LOVE to sing Opera. But, I sing "Voi Che Sapete", not "Tell Me What Love is" (cringe @ Charlotte Church), and I sing "Die Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen", not "Daughter, You'll Avenge Me". If I can learn to sing Italian and German, others can learn the National Anthem in English.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by f8nacn
Not to sound ignorant or anything, but I believe that because there is "Lift Every Voice and Sing" for African Americans/Blacks, someone could have written a song specifically for the Hispanic/Latino country.

...this sort of makes my point. It's just a song. Whether it's altered at all, or by whom, isn't anything that will legislatively impact anybody, from what I've read. It's not like saying we're going to change the value of state currency, and say have a dollar's value be x for whites, x+1 for AfAms, or x+2 for Latinos, etc...

It's an anthem. People feel (or don't feel) a sense of veracity about the song based on their experiences in this country. ...I'd think the administration ought to start worrying when immigrants (and others) stop wanting to sing the song, whatever its translational alteration.

[jojapeach]

Originally posted by TonyB06
where are these versions allowed to be "officially" sung? why is someone protesting because the anthem is translated and sung in someone's native tongue--isn't that gesture a "compliment?" and is someone supposed to bust in if you're singing the "unapproved" version? (where is P-Diddy when you need em).

Good point. It's not as if I'll attend a concert or any other event with 99% Latinos, then start a one-woman riot if I hear the Spanish "translation" of the anthem. If it's what they prefer, I'll honor it. I just don't forsee the Super Bowl or a presidential inauguration involving the Spanish translation. Heck, I don't think I've been to a Braves game yet where "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is part of the event.

[bluethunder]

Originally posted by jojapeach
Strongbeauty: I agree with your view

It's not completely controversial when you consider the immigration laws are a vastly more important issue. I feel like T.I. on this one (in a radio interview; who knew he had an opinion?): Apply to be here legally like other immigrants do, and everything is gravy.

T.I. had an opinion on this????
well, whatcha know about that?!!!?