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MAY DAY USA!
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NUESTRO HIMNO
Spanish language National Anthem
draws harsh criticism
Well, well. Now there is a Spanish language version of our national anthem. As if it wasn't already hard enough song
to try to sing!  Predictably, there is outrage over this, especially by those on the right.  I am really ambivalent about it
to tell the truth.  (Good opportunity for you to send me your thoughts - teach me - it is possible you know.)

As I have been trying to sort out the whole immigration issue in my mind, I find that it really interesting how much my
surroundings are playing into the opinion forming process.  Here in New York City, Spanish speakers are the people I
see working long hard hours at difficult jobs.  They may not speak the best English but that is what they speak.  You
can tell they have really made the effort to learn the language, pull their weight in society and assimilate into
American culture. When I see Hispanic families on the subway here they always seem respectful and well behaved (I
say this because it is not always the case with subway riders).  So I think that a Spanish language National Anthem is
fine for these good people.

I have to admit that when I lived in Miami it was a different story.  There seemed to be little or no effort of many
Hispanics there to learn the language.  For all the talk of the hard working ways of Miami Hispanics, I just recall fat
bellied people wearing t shirts with Cuban flags on it, hanging out all day drinking coffee and speaking Spanish-
loudly and proudly.  Walk up to them, in Miami USA, and speak English and you'll get a look - a sneer perhaps - and
only Spanish spoken back to you. I also have to go back to the Elian Gonzales episode where there were so many
people who seemed able to spend week after week just loitering outside somebody's house. When I think of all this - I
see no reason to give them a Spanish language National Anthem.

I fully realize that neither of these pictures is complete or altogether accurate. They are snapshots -
impressions based on casual observations and not scientific study. It is a generalization - not the
unvarnished truth.  I know there are plenty of English speaking hard working Miami Hispanic as well as lazy,
anti-soical New York Hispanics.  But it does remind me that one's point of view on an issue often depends on the
position you are looking at it at.  So I have to say that I don't have a strong opinion on this one way or the other.  My
only hope is that they don't start playing both versions of the National Anthem at baseball games.  

You all probably know that the National Anthem is played at the beginning of all baseball games (other sports too).  
But, since 9-11, they also stop the game in the 7th inning to play "God Bless America".  At the risk of being called
unpatriotic - enough already! If I wanted to attend a sing-a-long I would have gone to a Karaoke bar.  I go to Yankee
stadium to see a baseball game, not run though a menu of patriotic songs.  I have been wanting to write more on this
topic on the sports blog I occasionally contribute to so I may elaborate later.

Have a great day everyone!
Comments
Whatever happened to "E Pluribus Unum" and "Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free..."? This country used to be proud of our "melting pot" heritage?
I am a legal immigrant went through the process of citizenship. I learned to speak English.
Worked hard from the bottom of totem pole to the top. I am appalled by these demonstrations and
protests of illegals. They do a disservice to all immigrants and all Americans. God Bless
America, let us keep it a melting pot with legal immigration not a illegal colony of Mexico
that divides us all. USA love it or leave it...learn English as respect to the country houses
and feeds you or leave.After my work week I will take off my suit and tie and pick vegetables
as a community service for the country that has given me every thing.
USA is a great Country and many have lost perspective
on right and wrong, legal and illegal.
I think we should  re-write the words of  La Cucaracha in English. That is their National
Anthem isn't it? Tongue in cheek.
As a flag waving red blooded American I feel the gun of the media make us out to be racists and
bigots.
The national anthem is the song for America - how do you think other countries would feel if we
"translated" their anthems into English?  I agree, where you live will influence how you view
the latin community, and I know I am jaded having lived in Miami and seen both sides (before
and after the influx of "refugees"), but it is the AMERICAN national anthem and it should stay
that way.
As I think is readily apparent, the "Nuestro Himno" is not an Spanish language version of the
American national anthem. Instead, it appears that the "The Star-Spangled Banner" is merely
being "sampled". I find that disrespectful. I imagine Mexicans would also feel the same way if
their national anthem was chopped up for some hackneyed pop tune. And I wouldn't blame them.  
Additionally, I think it should be noted that GENUINE Spanish language versions of the American
national anthem already exists and have for the better part of a century.