FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919
FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919
The right wing is up in arms over a new version of the Star-Spangled Banner written in Spanish. Last week President Bush stated that “the national anthem ought to be sung in English.” Yesterday Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced a resolution requiring the Star-Spangled banner to be sung only in English:
That flag and that song are a part of our history and our national identity. … That’s why in 1931 Congress declared the Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem. That’s why we should always sing it in our common language, English.
In his press release, Alexander said the Star-Spangled Banner has “never before…been rendered in another language.”
But in 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Education commissioned a Spanish-language version of “The Star Spangled Banner.” The State Department’s website also features four-separate versions of the anthem in Spanish.
It appears xenophobia isn’t part of the American tradition.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
We need a resolution in Congress about this “issue”? Why are we even talking about this?
Millions of people are dying in Darfur because nobody is bothering to help them. How about we talk about that. Better yet, let’s DO SOMETHING about it!
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:56 amThat flag and that song are a part of our history and our national identity. … That’s why in 1931 Congress declared the Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem. That’s why we should always sing it in our common language, English.
The shallow depths of this mans intelligence is glaring.
Of course Bush says he can speak Spanish, and trys to impress foks with his spanglish dialectic, after all Mr Bush, how do you expect the Illegals to learn the Song?
Write it in Hebrew? Yiddish perhaps? Greek Maybe?
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:59 amMaybe we should have such a fine Castillian Spanish speaker such as Mr. Bush Interpret the words and sing it to the Hispanics.
What a Goober Bush is.
Good to see the Republicans have solved all the other problems facing this country, now it’s time to address the trivial. That “freedom fries” resolution a few years back also had a big impact.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:01 am#We need a resolution in Congress about this “issue� Why are we even talking about this?
Millions? of people are dying in Darfur because nobody is bothering to help them. How about we talk about that. Better yet, let’s DO SOMETHING about it!
Comment by Publicus — May 2, 2006 @ 9:56 am
I agree. lets arm the Politicians of the World, give them guns bullets and tanks, and let them destroy one another, because until we rid our world of these greedy, lying bastards, the leaders of war and death, we will not have peace.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:03 amThat’s just great! Let’s see how they spin this one. “Umm…that was 1919. We are now living in 2006. Plus the Board of Education back then was comprised of pedophiles, flag burners, troop haters, communists, flip-floppers…”
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:04 amLMFAO
Republicans have been getting BITCHSLAPPED (no offense)
left and right since the Dubai Ports deal……
Dubai
$100 rebate
Star Spangled Banner
Valerie Plame Iran nukes
Immigration Protests
Bring it on Rethugs….bring it on
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:05 am#2 – I doubt bush speaks Castillian. That dialect is spoken only in Columbia here in the Americas.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:06 amI am reading Kevin Phillips’ book American Dynasty and on page 142 (bottom of page) he writes: “George W. Bush . . . would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ in Spanish…”
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:06 amWouldn’t it be great if someone could dig up some video of that!
As a Canadian I chuckle at this language thing the US has. Come to a ball or hockey game here and our anthem is sung half in English, and half in French. And guess what? the sun always comes up the next day.
Arret, s’il vous plait.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:09 amBush doesn’t want to fingerprint Illegals, but he wants to write songs in English?
Does Bush Even Speak in our Language English?
No. He Archie Bunkers that on a daily basis.
misremembered? Thats not English. WTF is it?
Gibberish. Bush CAN”T even speak ENGLISH much less Spanish!!
“George W. Bush . . . would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ in Spanish…†LMAO thanks Todd.
The Hypocrite Bush, sunk once again by his own words.
Kudos.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:13 am#9 Gary, you also have a large sepertast movement in your french speaking province.
#5 “That’s just great! Let’s see how they spin this one. “Umm…that was 1919. We are now living in 2006.”
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:15 amThe spin is that it wasn’t our national anthem at that time, Bush’s statement was he feels the national anthem should be sung in English. No contradiction there. Having 4 other versions in spanish on file dosn’t help that much though.
The slaughter goes unchallenged in Darfur. The children of Iran suffer largely at our hands. Hey, let’s demonize Latinos! I guess that makes sense to the Repugs.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:16 amI hear there is legislation that will bar anyone from singing the National Anthem in the style of Roseanne Barr.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:17 amI suggest that those who simply can’t hold back their outrage at the idea someone would set Spanish lyrics — lyrics that (gasp!) don’t even MEAN the same thing! — to the tune of a certain English drinking song composed in the 17th century might want to talk with the British, and see how they feel about having one of their most beloved patriotic anthems stolen by an upstart rebellious nation, changing its lyrics to mean something quite different than “God Save the Queen.”
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:18 amThis morning the 3 amigos on Fox & Friends were “discussing” this. The woman (I don’t know any of their names) did mention the 1919 thing & the state department website thing. BUT as you can guess they still needed to bitch & moan about it, so they came up with a new twist…that “they’ve” been changing the words of the anthem & that’s sacriligeous.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:18 amAt least congress is “doing some hard work now.” Somehow this is all Clinton’s fault.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:19 amThough I am a supporter of Think Progress and it’s efforts, I have to differ here. After checking the links to the source material, I have to point out that Mr. Alexander’s resolution refers to the “National Anthem”, NOT the “Star-Spangled Banner”.
In1919 it was just another song. It was not until 1931 did it become the National Anthem. Was it translated into other languages anytime then after? If so, then I will accept your argument, otherwise I am afraid you are stretching the facts a little too far.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:19 amThe President barely speaks English himself.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:19 amIt seems to me that Spanish-speakers need to know more about our country as they work here, live here, and start the process of assimilation. Translating our documents and historical ideals into Spanish will help. Has anyone complained that the Constitution should not be translated? Why not? We’re certainly not using it!
I think we should have more of this, not less. Translate “This Land Is Your Land,” “America, the Beautiful,” and “La Bamba” (the latter, of course, into English). More cross-cultural understanding, not less.
I don’t expect to ever see a two-language presentation of the National Anthem at a ball game, but it’d be no big deal if they did it.
Ed
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:21 amchimpeachment now!
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:22 amDon’t expect the facts to get in the way of what the GOP will use as a way to divide America along racial or social lines…remember affirmative action, Willy Horton, gay marriage?
I’m very troubled about this debate, however. I don’t see what is to be gained in the progressive community by engaging in it.
However, if they can dish out made-up stuff, so can EWM:
“Tancredo Calls for Catapult to Return Aliens”
…When a reporter suggested that Tancredo’s proposals were xenophobic, the congressman became enraged.
“That’s a mighty big word and I’m not sure what it means, but let me tell you a thing or two about history. This melting pot business is a big crockpot of shit. We’ve played footsie with the foreigners for 230 years in this country and what did it get us? Montezuma’s revenge, German measles, Asian flu and Dutch elm disease–they’re a scourge I tell you!…
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:22 am#11 Squegeeboo,separatism is old news here…. the French speaking Quebecers had valid reasons historically for wanting to leave…. until the 1970’s the 80% French majority there were economically disadvantaged ; the economy was quite controlled by the English minority business class. It’s totally different now.
It doesn’t mean that there isn’t a separatist movement, it is mostly for economic reasons to bring home the bacon from the Federal government.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:24 amThese sorry repukes are desperate for an issue to keep them in office. Their trashing of Hispanics is going to have the same effect that Prop 187 had in California. In California, only a fool Hispanic votes for any repuke. The same will soon be true on a national scale.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:25 am[...] FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919 [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:26 am“I don’t expect to ever see a two-language presentation of the National Anthem at a ball game,”
Happens in Canada.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:27 amAre any of the people upset about this familiar with the term “Free Speech?”
I rarely hear people actually SINGING the anthem at events the way it is. This is the United State of America and we are all in this together. English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Greek, Ojibwa, and Ebonics are all fine with me. I welcome them all and encourage everyone to sing as one in any langrage that they choose.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:28 am” Was it translated into other languages anytime then after? ”
Samoan. The Senate of American Samoa in January 2006 introduced a resolution to adopt a Samoan translation.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:30 amMany americans don’t even know the Words to the Star Spangled Banner, or name the 50 states, the NCLB is still seriously underfunded. But hey, Who cares if they Read English or Write, lets Worry about the songs of the Past and keep dumbing America down in the mean time.
Sounds like a Heckuva Plan George.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:31 amPlease just sing it in tune!
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:38 amThe 1919 find is priceless. Now lets add to the history lesson. Look up a song by the name of Anacreon in Heaven. I believe that it was penned around the 1780’s era in London, England. It’s a little pub ditty that started as a men’s society themesong.
That my friends is the melody to our Star Spangled Banner. So FSK wrote a set of lyrics to an English drinking song. Oh what will the religious purists do with that! You can’t call history a liar!
http://www.contemplator.com/america/anacreon.html
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:39 amhttp://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacreon.html
All cultures are subject to external influences, but cultural xenophobia is often narrowly directed, for instance at foreign loan words in a national language. It rarely leads to aggression against persons, but can result in political campaigns for cultural or linguistic purification
So they are just Haters, they Hate and Hate and Hate. Got a Reason for Hate? Send it to Faux TV.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:40 amXENO-FAUX-BIA TV!
This country gets very weird about the creative variability of “fixed” things. When Igor Stravinsky moved to the USA, he was so delighted to be here that he wrote a new musical arrangement of the anthem (it’s not weird, odd, or unrecognizable – in fact, it’s better IMHO). It was promptly banned in Boston (the BSO was going to debut it) because some judge thought it wasn’t the TRUE anthem. Sheez!!
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:40 amSeeking an easily exploitable campaign issue, and not looking beneath the surface, is just so… Republican. I can’t wait to hear the “it’s not my fault” explanation. As to why a resolution might be needed, well, an election is coming!!! Gotta look busy, dont’cha know!! Need to have something to show the folks back home, and ‘patriotism’ really sells!
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:40 amI think Tom Tancredo should be strapped to a little boat in Disneyland and be forced to to hear the puppets singing “It’s a Small World After All” over and over and over….
And while he’s doing that somebody ought to ram through Congress tha resolution making Jimi Hendrix’s version of The Star Spangled Banner the official version.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:44 am[...] (HT: TP Commenter Todd) [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:44 amThis sort of reminds me of France refusing to call email email, instead it needed a french name.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:48 amPeople, please stop and think!! This is another King George political rally. He met with the Mexican president, made a deal for the mexican immigrants to cross the borders, send their kids to US schools, get drivers license, med care and pay taxes back to Mexico. Americans were alarmed because of the risk of “terrorist” crossing the borders along with the Mexican immigrants. GEORGE BUSH SET THIS UP. Now, the Americans are being pitted against the Mexicans. IT IS A BUSH PLOT.
We have immigration laws. This is not something new. Think of this, if there was a REAL “terrorist” threat, would a sensible president with all the powers he can amass for himself, allow open borders? He has sent our jobs overseas and made a deal to give the rest of the jobs to the immigrants. ALL THIS TO BREAK THE UNIONS.
Will these immigrants be our next round of military troops?
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:48 amThank you Amanda, for derailing another stupid GOP red herring wedge issue.
The Republicans are lying, cheating sons of Bushes and all need to be kicked out of office.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:48 amWhy stop at Spanish, we need a version of the national anthem in every language of every group of legal immigrants in the USA, too, and a native north american version too! Also, take a look at what the Spanish Conquistadors did to the native central and south american peoples and parts of north america before there ever was a USA, they were a scourge back then and they are a scourge now.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:49 amI can’t believe you people are wasting time on this and ignoring the real great issue of our times. I am writing to my congressman immediately to take action on the REAL great debate of our times: ketchup vs. salsa. Ketchup is the great American condiment, and we must protect it.
We must protect our common heritage! Who will we be when we no longer use ketchup? No Affirmative Action for Condiments!
Seriously, since when is a song that most people can’t even sing properly (have you TRIED to hit those high notes in “the rocket’s red glare?” My voice always cracks.) the most important part of being American? Obviously, ketchup is SO much more important. I EAT IT EVERY DAY. I only sing the national anthem at baseball games. Where I also have hot dogs WITH KETCHUP AND NOT SALSA!
As a minor point, I am also writing my Congressman to change the names of Texas, California, Florida, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Antonio, to something more suitably English. Probably “Ketchupland.” Because when people see the word “Texas,” they certainly don’t think “America!” But obviously, the greatest threat to our national cohesion comes from decreased ketchup consumption, not some song that people only sing at baseball games. Duh.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:52 am[...] U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919 [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:55 amNow squegeeboo, it sounds like your perfect world revolves around everyone speaking the same language, eating at the same type of restaurant, all ordering the same thing, and all wearing the same style of clothes.
The best companies in the world to work for, and countries to live in, are those that can balance the two opposites that drive everyone, one, to belong to something greater than themselves, and two, the ability to express one’s individuality within the group.
Why do you sound so threatened by diversity?
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:57 amThe reason Congress has time to work on this is because the war in Iraq is going great, all the roads in America are finished and our schools are in tip-top shape.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:01 amWhat is the point of debating this? The man is clearly a racist. Imagine yourself making the same remarks he made to MILLIONS of people. Where else would you find that inside of you?
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:01 amIt’s a little pub ditty that started as a men’s society themesong.
That my friends is the melody to our Star Spangled Banner. So FSK wrote a set of lyrics to an English drinking song. Oh what will the religious purists do with that! You can’t call history a liar!
http://www.contemplator.com/america/anacreon.html
~
HAHAHAA. Say Didn’t the Elitists sit around singing the Whiffenpoof Song, while of course drinking! Why those sneaky elitist ‘Libruls’
http://www.yale.edu/whiffenpoofs/history/
~
And Texas will have to be Renamed TEJAS Because thats What it originally Was.
TEJAS, Caddo ‘Indian’ Culture,
Of Course the Bush Xenophobes don’t care about History or Facts.
~
dizzying changes of modern life. And they wish that more people understood their tribe’s proud history and many accomplishments.
Tejas is the Spanish spelling of a Caddo word taysha, which means “friend” or “ally”. In the 17th century the Spanish knew the westernmost Caddo peoples as “the great kingdom of Tejas” and the name lived on to become the name of the 28th state of the United States—Texas.
Bush is a DOPE!
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:02 amKiss My TAYSHA BUTT GEORGE!
Singing the National Anthem in Spanish?! Criminy!! The nerve of these foreigners! Singing is for pop-stars and Pavarotti; they should ALL be dragged downtown to the Swiss/American Club and taught to yodel the National Anthem like we all do!!
If I were sitting at a baseball game and I overheard some foreigner in the immediate area singing the National Anthem I would feel so proud knowing that,”Yes! It HAS crossed the cultural divide!”
My grandfather (Christian Christensen Wiig) came to America in a boat from Norway in the early 20th century….illegally!! He dropped his native tongue out of CHOICE.
I wish we could all see the Native American Indians sitting around the campfire, scratching there head-dresses wondering, “What’s all the fuss about?”
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:02 am#42 gary
“Why do you sound so threatened by diversity?”
I’m not, but my opinion is if your moving to America, you must think it’s better then were you came from, otherwise why are you moving? So why bring where you came from with you if its worse?
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:06 amBy the same token, if I move from America to somewhere else, I would be doing it because the other place is better, so I would adopt their customs/language/etc.
I agree with Gary from Canada. Singing the national anthem in Spanish takes nothing from us. I believe it’s a great compliment to the United States that they want to sing it in Spanish, and yet we throw it back in their faces.
Arret, s’il vous plait.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:10 amActually, I prefer a ketchup and white horseradish style mix, excellent on tortilla chips!! Sometimes with a dash of cayenne for a liitle zing.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:19 amSusan,
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:23 amyour commenting about the “three amigos” on Fox lamenting the Spanish Language Anthem was changing the words really struck me as hilarious and expected of Fox. No mention that Congress changed the Pledge fron “indivisible” to “under God.” The Pledge was written as a poem by a BAPTIST MINISTER and I’m sure if he wanted to insert God in his poem he would have. Maybe he just respected the Constitution’s reminder of separation of Church and State.
#17 – I consider it like the changing of the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by Congress to add “under Godâ€.
The original “’I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.â€
For those that are upset over the national anthem being sung in Spanish should consider first the unofficial changing of the Presidential Oath as it is currently written in the Constitution: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
When the President decides to add “so help me God†to his oath of office, the complaining about the National Anthem being sung in Spanish is hypocrisy, plain and simple.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:31 amNext, they will try to put our national anthem in Lakota! OMG! These shamefull liberals.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:33 amThe “Star Spangled Banner” and “My Country ’tis of Thee” are waltzes! Effeminent, pansy, girly-man waltzes! Change it now to “God Bless America” or “America the Beautiful”, as they are in macho 4/4 “common” time!
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:33 am“By the same token, if I move from America to somewhere else, I would be doing it because the other place is better, so I would adopt their customs/language/etc.”
Well, gee, Squegeeboo, it’s too bad America didn’t have you around for advice when the predominately english speaking people first settled America. You could have set up “Native American as a Second Language” classes for the pilgrims. You probably could have set up America’s first custom tailoring outlet, “Skins Like Us”. “Pilgrim Pemmican”…..
I could go on.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:35 amHey Ardie, the chakais are a bunch of weenugs and nimmo kiddens, why bother!!
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:37 amDoes that mean the producers of the pop version of the song can be sued for some kind of plagiarism? At least, someone should tell British music producer Adam Kidron that he wasn’t the first person to have the idea of a Spanish version of the song.
This part does sort of bother me:
I mean, come on now. They are CHANGING the lyrics? This to me says “We’re not singing your song anymore. We are singing our OWN version!” And with that being the case, they can sing their song all they want. But don’t call it Americas national anthem. Because once the lyrics are changed, it is NOT the same song anymore.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:39 amAnd I agree with everyone on here that are agaisnt the adding of “God” in songs where it wasn’t there before. I have ALWAYS hated that, and have ALWAYS been against that. I am also angered by adding God on our money and our government buildings.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:41 amWasn’t it the Republicans that wanted to rename french fries. Sometimes you got to wonder about the thinking capacity of some of these people.
These issues are huge wasters of time. Either our Representatives are digbats, lazy, or covering-up… you know stir the emotional pot, keeping people talking about nothing so they can resume their power and money grabs.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:44 ammaybe if they changed it to goddamned, that would be more politically correct, but then again, Gods last name isn’t damn.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:44 amAt this point, i’m in favor of either kicking all the illegals out and sealing the border, or
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:48 amworking out a merger between the U.S. and Mexico(use Mexico’s drug policy though!) so that we no longer have a flood of people attempting to leave Mexico. The bad part is that i’ll be disappointed either way, because whatever happens will be a watered down solution that l
eaves both sides unhappy.
[...] Take a guess and then check your answers here. Watching the radical right in America at work just shows what an amateur Goebels was. Compared to them, he knew nothing about manipulating the Press. [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:48 am[...] This flip-flop should be no surprise to anyone. When was the last time you felt that BushCo. was being upfront and honest? Check it out here: Think Progress » FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919 [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:49 amI hear there is legislation that will bar anyone from singing the National Anthem in the style of Roseanne Barr.
Now that I would support.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:51 amBush is the worst hypocrite who ever lived and his supporters are worse than Hitler’s Nazi goons! Every decent American must demand the Dubya Dunce Decider’s resignation today!
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:56 amDeja vu (or should I say “freedom vision”) all over again! I seem to remember an episode of All in the Family where Archie Bunker is trapped in an elevator with a Puerto Rican couple ready to have a baby and a snobbishly aristocratic black millionaire.
In the inevitable argument that ensues, the Puerto Rican husband seeks to prove his patriotic credentials by starting to sing the Star Spangled Banner in one of the various Spanish versions, with the opening lines “Digame puede ver…”, but he is interrupted by Archie who says that the song should only be sung on patriotic occasions, such as football games.
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:01 pmThe resolution of the issue is to mandate the anthem be sung Pig Latin. Ool-ca or ut-way?
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:02 pm[...] Music history: In response to a new Spanish-language version of the “Star Spangled Banner,” President Bush has said that “the national anthem ought to be sung in English,” and Sen. Lamar Alexander has even introduced a resolution requiring it be sung only in English. Both probably don’t realize that in 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Education commissioned a Spanish-language version of “The Star Spangled Banner,” and the US State Department website features four-separate versions of the anthem in Spanish. Via ThinkProgress. [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:02 pm#66 – I’d support that!
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:15 pmKennedy supports Bush on this one
Warning, Link goes to a rightwing site that has the video, so don’t blame me for any aneurysms you may recieve by going there.
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:17 pm#2.
See #1.
His statement made volumes of sense when compared to you.
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:19 pmWhat ever happened to freedom of expression???? America is beyond the “english” language. Are we brits now?… because we did not invent “English” it is a borrowed language of sorts. A greater philosophical debate to consider… what is America… what is our nation?
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:19 pmHHHmmmm, what was Bush’s Yale undergraduate degree?
Oh yeh, history.
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:35 pm[...] Speaking of that burning hypocrisy when it comes to the national anthem, it’s worth noting that the idea of a Spanish-language Star Spangled Banner is nothing new — in fact, one was commissioned by the federal government in 1919. Oh, and our own State Department has four different versions of it. [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:43 pmIn California, bi-lingual and even multi-lingual becomes a hot topic at times. The biggest irony of the english only for government printed materials is that the California Consitition was available from the start in both English and Spanish. In fact a siginifcant number of the representatives to the consitution forming body were spanish landowners, and translators were used.
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:48 pmSon Gente Estúpida…
In 2004, it was gay people. Now it’s Americans who speak Spanish. There’s not a wedge issue vile enough for the Republicans. They’re even saying that the Star Spangled Banner should only be sung in English because that’s the way it’s always bee…
May 2nd, 2006 at 1:07 pmHere come the Factinista again.
Sure, your research may tell you that the gov’t commissioned a spanish language version of the national anthem…but my GUT tells me that it is only sung in english, always on-tune, and only in the presence of real patriotic americans…THE HEROES like you.
As was so clearly explained last weekend, GUT TRUMPS “facts”
Facts are simple and facts are straight
Facts are lazy and facts are late
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don’t do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
Facts are getting the best of them
Facts are nothing on the face of things
Facts don’t stain the furniture
Facts go out and slam the door
Facts are written all over your face
Facts continue to change their shape
I’m still waiting…I’m still waiting…I’m still waiting…
I’m still waiting…I’m still waiting…I’m still waiting…
I’m still waiting…I’m still waiting…
D Byrne–Crosseyed & Painless
May 2nd, 2006 at 1:09 pm#39 Just count the number of indians alive in North America and in Center and South America… and now tell me if the WASPs and french were so kind to the indians.
Pal, the topic of the Conquistadores as the only butchers of the indians of America is that, a topic. Or maybe you forget all the indians dead by the US Cavalry, or in the way from their fertile lands to swamp or desert reserves, when they were deported by the multiple treasonous treaties with the USA president, or by fleeces infected with smallpox, handed to them on purpose by a USA general to decimate them, or only for the purpose of scalp them to sell their hair to doll makers (yes, initially an european behavior)…
May 2nd, 2006 at 1:41 pmTo combine The Washington Post’s recent column about net neutrality with this issue:
Who knows whether in the future, someone singing the “Star Spangled Banner” in Spanish will prevent a dying senior citizen’s cries for help from being heard?
Maybe Litan will write an op-ed opposing Sen. Alexander’s proposal. But why do I doubt it?
May 2nd, 2006 at 1:57 pmIf the star-spangled banner was not made the national anthem until 1931, then whatever they did with it in 1919 is irrelevant.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:06 pmThe latest version was not the National. The words were changed. It was an anti American Song.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:37 pmThe latest version was not the National. The words were changed. It was an anti American Song.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:37 pmthere are deeper issues at stake here. i believe the focus is being misdirected as usual to take the heat off of something far more sinister in washington d.c., and to think otherwise is to pretend everything is going well in this country. it is the same as those hoodlums saying everything is fine in iraq when nothing can be further from the truth. beware of smokescreens.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:37 pmIf the star-spangled banner was not made the national anthem until 1931, then whatever they did with it in 1919 is irrelevant.
Especially if it was in Spanish.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:48 pm.
Oh, Senator Alexander. If only you understood how the Constitution restricts what you can legislate against. If you passed a law that said that I could not sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in any language I chose, then that law would violate my right to free speech. (Yes, the First Amendment applies even to speech you don’t personally like.)
Now, if you want to pass legislation that requires that at any government events where the National Anthem is played and sung, that it must be sung in English, then I think you can do that. But to say that no one should be allowed to sing the song (that is also our National Anthem) in Spanish is pathetically stupid.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:54 pmUm, am I the only one left in this country that remembers that we have a number of territories and possessions (notably Puerto Rico) where Spanish is the primary language? I can pretty much guarantee you that when the Expos/Nationals were playing games in Puerto Rico about 2 years ago (at Hiram Bithorn Stadium), they weren’t just playing the National Anthem in English….
May 2nd, 2006 at 3:17 pm[...] Credit to Amanda at Think Progress for bringing this to our attention. So blatantly hypocriticaly, its actually funny. Yesterday Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced a resolution requiring the Star-Spangled banner to be sung only in English… In his press release, Alexander said the Star-Spangled Banner has “never before…been rendered in another language.†[...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 5:00 pm[...] Spanish shit hitting Texan fan: “National Anthem Sung In Spanish First Bush Inaugural”, “McClellan Asked About Bush Singing National Anthem In Spanish”, “Candidate Bush Would ‘Sing The Star-Spangled Banner in Spanish’ At Hispanic Festivals”, “FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919″, [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 5:39 pmThis sounds like another “freedom fries” issue to me — or pouring French wine down the drain. Absolutely meaningless, but it panders to the xenophobes.
May 2nd, 2006 at 5:45 pmIn South America, when describing Spanish as an official language, quite often the language is called “castellano”. Not every Spaniard speaks the language we call Spanish as a first language; many speak Basque, Catalan or Gallego (among others) at home. Thus the language that we call Spanish is more precisely called Castillian, or “castellano”, and thus its name appears in conversation and constitutions.
While the language spoken in Bogota and in Madrid is mutually comprehensible, the dialect is not considered the same.
May 2nd, 2006 at 6:34 pmMaybe we should just chuck it and sing that grand old Gallic revolutionary song “ça ira” instead — after all, they helped us win OUR revolution. I particularly like its suggestion that we hang the aristocrats (”Les aristocrats, on les pendra”). Better yet, we could change “Les aristocrats” to “Tous les néocons” — a particularly droll emendation considering what “con” means in French.
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:01 pm[...] The problem, however, is that the protests, rallys and boycotts are causing a bit of a backlash. Some are even losing their minds over a Spanish version of the national anthem (even though the U.S. government commissioned several versions of it in 1919, and Our Clueless Leader himself sung it while trying to garner the Hispanic vote). [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:24 pmThere is one glaring difference between GWB and Hitler – Hitler actually served for his country when he was a young man.
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:37 pmI want to use my nonexistant $100 gas refund to commission someone to write a version of the Star Spangled Banner in Pig Latin!
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:50 pmIf the star-spangled banner was not made the national anthem until 1931, then whatever they did with it in 1919 is irrelevant.
Comment by DS — May 2, 2006 @ 2:06 pm
Wow! That was a long time ago, which makes it a really old law.
I think it’s time to update and modernize the law. Since we’re in the age of globalization, we should also globalize the Star Spangled Banner.
We should make versions in EVERY language of every country in the world. Then to help offset the trillion dollar trade imbalance, export the new versions to those other countries.
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:08 pm[...] Apparently, the United States officially comissioned a Spanish language version of the national anthem back in 1919. And the State Department website has four different language versions on it right now. [...]
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:35 pmPost 92 > Yes not only did Hitler serve in WWI, he was awarded the Iron Cross for bravery! He was a corporal who actually fought in combat and was wounded in battle, unlike Bush who was a drunk and avoided Vietnam!
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:48 pmThis is an example of the same pock brained logic that goes into flag-burning amendments. It is just despicable political posturing by Repugnant scumbags who pretend to be patriotic while all they have done is sell Americans out time after time.
I could care less whether the Star Spangled Banner is sung in African bushman click. I would wager that 80% or more Americans don’t even know the words to this song and that 99% of Americans don’t know the history or the author behind the song. Duh!
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:53 pmStatements like that will go a lot further the next time around for the republicans as a result of bush making the national archives sullied and unreachable and no child left behind making the kids stupider. They’re looking for anything but the truth to get your panties in a twist – when the hell is everyone going to stop listening to the political nonsense and step up to get our rights back?
May 3rd, 2006 at 5:13 amWho cares?
May 3rd, 2006 at 5:40 amYou better worry about the war that Bush and his friends are cooking up in Iran.
The Spanish sing won’t hurt you but war will.
Qué vergüenza. ¿Por qué no puede nuestro presidente de habla hispana, el conservador compasivo supuesto, traerse para apoyar las aspiraciones patrióticas de unos 30 millones de habla hispana, americanos nacidos nativos?
May 3rd, 2006 at 6:28 am[...] The Washington Post – in an article headlined “Administration Is Singing More Than One Tune on Spanish Version of Anthem” – picked up on President Bush’s hypocrisy on singing the national anthem, reported by ThinkProgress yesterday. An excerpt: The Center for American Progress, a liberal group run by Clinton chief of staff John D. Podesta, posted on its blog a reference to Bush singing the anthem in Spanish. In his book, “American Dynasty,” Kevin Phillips wrote that Bush “would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ in Spanish, sometimes partying with a ‘Viva Bush’ mariachi band flown in from Texas.” [...]
May 3rd, 2006 at 9:56 am[...] The Washington Post – in an article headlined “Administration Is Singing More Than One Tune on Spanish Version of Anthem” – picked up on President Bush’s hypocrisy on singing the national anthem, reported by ThinkProgress yesterday. An excerpt: The Center for American Progress, a liberal group run by Clinton chief of staff John D. Podesta, posted on its blog a reference to Bush singing the anthem in Spanish. In his book, “American Dynasty,” Kevin Phillips wrote that Bush “would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ in Spanish, sometimes partying with a ‘Viva Bush’ mariachi band flown in from Texas.” [...]
May 3rd, 2006 at 9:56 am[...] http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/02/spanish-anthem/ [...]
May 3rd, 2006 at 10:15 amThis all cracks me up…french fries and a song that half the country doesnt even know the words to….this is what the leaders of our country are worrying about…not wars, or people dying, or how down the drain the economy is….but fries and songs. Fine, outlaw potatos and change the national anthem to something EVERYONE knows…How about “Hit me Baby One More Time” or “Bye Bye Bye” or even the Toys-R-Us Theme song. That way everyone could sing it, and everyone is happy, and our leaders can work on something truly important, like figuring out if everyone farted at the same time if our planet would be shot out of orbit.
May 3rd, 2006 at 3:07 pmWe didn’t assimilate into Native American culture.
May 3rd, 2006 at 4:34 pmWhy should any immigrant coming into this country have to assimilate into the majority culture if they don’t need to?
This IS still the land of the free, no?
No.
[...] Think Progress » FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1919 (tags: politics history) [...]
May 4th, 2006 at 12:15 amPersonally, I think the anthem should be changed to “This Land Is Your Land”!
May 4th, 2006 at 9:44 pm[...] FACT CHECK: US Government Commissioned Spanish-Language Star …Think Progress, DC - May 2, 2006 That s why in 1931 Congress declared the Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem. That s why we should always sing it in our common language, English. … [...]
May 6th, 2006 at 9:27 am[...] and was merely pandering to Hispanics to garner their votes. [ Permanent Link | '); | '); | Technorati Links ] The Great Society © 2005-2006 TGS was created using the Firefox web browser and may notbe viewed as cleanly in others. Get a free website from Blogsome. Theme was originally designed by Lee Penney and customized thereafter. Navigation Home Login [...]
May 8th, 2006 at 5:01 am[...] In 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Education commissioned a Spanish-language version of “The Star Spangled Banner.†The State Department’s website also features four-separate versions of the anthem in Spanish. http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/02/spanish-anthem [...]
May 16th, 2006 at 11:24 amthe star spangled slaveholders banner the miserable legacy of the conquest
June 15th, 2006 at 1:55 pmIt appears there are only three of the four verses translated into this Spanish version.
June 26th, 2006 at 12:06 pmWhat is missing?
It appears the thrid verse is the missing one – but why?
June 26th, 2006 at 12:14 pmhey this site is gay it gave me no information at all get of the internet u barsteds
July 9th, 2006 at 7:19 pm*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************this site is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo borzing
get of the internet u basterds
July 9th, 2006 at 7:22 pmJust a GOP attempt to divert for important issues.
Oh and to the comment above mine, learn how to spell before you insult people.
I think you ment “This site is boring, get off the internet you bastards!”
Dumbass.
November 13th, 2006 at 6:32 pmthis was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
F*#king boring
January 10th, 2007 at 8:22 pmLa Glerion è un’azienda specializzata nella realizzazione di siti web, sistemi di e-commerce, animazioni flash e presentazioni multimediali; realizza applicazioni gestionali personalizzate e fornisce consulenza aziendale nell’ambito delle tecnologie di rete.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:30 amJohn
I am very impressed with your site. The quality of the design and content makes it a real winner! Thanks again for a great site and a great resource on the net.
March 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pmarabic culture
Man i just love your blog, keep the cool posts comin..
March 18th, 2008 at 10:36 pmalicia silverstone benicio del toro
Man i love reading your blog, interesting posts !
March 18th, 2008 at 10:46 pmMichael
This is great
March 19th, 2008 at 4:42 pmProm Dresses Hat Hollister Clothing
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 23rd, 2008 at 2:42 pmCash Loan Advance
Best service offering cash advance loans before payday.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:46 pmPay Day Loans
Phat provider of reputable no fax cash loan advance with the easiest money approvals.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pmoh baby i feel so down and i dont know why lyrics
I enjoyed reading your blog. It is so interesting reading other peoples personal take on a subject.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:21 pmdish networks
Good post. I am looking into these issues on my blog.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:23 amFast Payday Loan Fast Cash Loan Fast Money Is-on-t
Please keep these excellent posts coming.
April 1st, 2008 at 8:09 amfree federal government grant
How are you doing? Just read your info. Gotta say – nice website. You should check out my government business grants website.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 pmgovernment grants for single moms mother
How r u? Nice site! Come check out my free government grant application online domain.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:32 amEric
Scarica Gratis
April 5th, 2008 at 3:37 pmcries oregon
Very interesting post. A little bit confusing, but still ok. do you know what is the first? i`ve the new album at my blog http://sumpit.info
April 5th, 2008 at 5:40 pmfree us government grant
How are you doing? I just dropped by. I’ve gotta say, you have nice site! You need to visit my government home business grant webpage.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pmLeandra
As soon as your recognize that you are able to control your thoughts happiness will come within your reach.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:26 ammarwan khory
Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts..
April 9th, 2008 at 4:50 amHarry Convict
Bravo! Finally a great blog.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:09 pmErin
The pen is really mightier than the sword, as you have proven here.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:39 amTeen Girls Black Teens Kiss Lesbian Teen
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 13th, 2008 at 4:34 am