National anthem should be sung in English: Bush

[Guest Warwick Green]

U.S. President George Bush has criticized a new Spanish-language version of the American national anthem, written as an ode to immigrants seeking a better life.

U.S. President George Bush has criticized the new Spanish-language version of the American anthem.

"I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English," Bush remarked when asked at a news conference at the White House Friday.

Adam Kidron, the British-born producer behind Nuestro Himno (Our Hymn) said it was not his intention "to usurp anything."

"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," said Kidron, who has been a U.S. resident for 16 years.

The song, which features a number of artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon, has drawn criticism in the U.S.

"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 restrictions on immigration.

....

The record label is urging Hispanic radio stations to play the song Friday night as a sign of solidarity.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006...anish-bush.html

[geoffrey]

That's ridiculous. The anthem should be sung in language(s) of the country. And Spanish isn't the language of the US.

[Guest Warwick Green]

That's ridiculous. The anthem should be sung in language(s) of the country. And Spanish isn't the language of the US.

There is nothing you can do to prevent people translating a National Anthem into any langauge they want. And there are 40 million Hispanics in the US. Bush could have handled it a bit more adroitly. While recognizing their right to have a Spanish version he could point out that only the English version is official.

I was in Lowell, Mass, recently. I couldn't belive the number of Hispanics in the city. Many businesses have bilingual signs and two churches I saw advertised Spanish-langauge marriage services. And I talked to people who only spoke Spanish, not English. And this is in the heart of the old New England textile region, not an area you would expect to find much Spanish spoken.

[Leafless]

Warwick Green

You wrote- " There's nothing you can do to prevent translating a national anthem into any language they want."

The 'Star-Spangled Banner' the American national anthem was not onlt translated it was totally doctored containing different lyrics to appease the growing Latino population by Adam kindron a Briton basically in protest concerning Congress and immigration reforms.

This new recording 'Nuestro Himno' (Our Anthem) is an insult to the U.S. in my opinion and nothing more than a cheap take off of the original anthem to capitilize on the dollars Latino's will spend to buy this doctored recording.

I think charges at this time should be pending against this writer for contributing and encouraging potential uprising by Latino's in America concerning illegal and false aspirations regarding U.S. citizenship.

[Guest Warwick Green]

I think charges at this time should be pending against this writer for contributing and encouraging potential uprising by Latino's in America concerning illegal and false aspirations regarding U.S. citizenship.

So we add another crime to the statute books - politically incorrect translations?

[PocketRocket]

"Jose, can you see........"

[theloniusfleabag]

"Jose, can you see........"

...why all the farm help ain't white...

[Leafless]

Warwick Green

You wrote- " So we add another crime to the statute books-politically incorrect translations."

In Canada our official national anthem was doctored immensely by own federal government in an illegal sense I say as there was as usual no Canadian participation to accept or reject the previous national anthem.

Our official national anthem was 'God Save the Queen' sung in schools, even in theatres after the movie had finished where everyone stood and did not leave the theatre until 'God Save the Queen' was done playing out of respect.

Lester Pearson got the job (pressured, as well as aspects concerning federal official bilingualism) just before Trudeau was elected of changing Canada's national anthem to 'O Canada' a song created by Quebecer Calixa Lavallee 13 years after confederation that was originally sung at St. Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations.

So I guess it is left here in Canada to individual Canadians discretion to accept or reject the notion that Canada's own national anthem sprouted from the seeds of political incorrectness unseating the rightful version reflecting the TRUE identity of Canada.

[Guest Warwick Green]

"Jose, can you see........"

Almost an invitation for people to flood across the border.

[Wilber]

What does this have to with Canada/US Relations? It's the American's national anthem. Canadians should keep their opinions to themselves.

[Riverwind]

What does this have to with Canada/US Relations? It's the American's national anthem. Canadians should keep their opinions to themselves.

Canadians have been dealing with a politically powerful linguistic minority for 140 years. Our experience is relevant to Americans.

[Wilber]

What does this have to with Canada/US Relations? It's the American's national anthem. Canadians should keep their opinions to themselves.

Canadians have been dealing with a politically demanding linguistic minority for 140 years. Our experience is relevant to Americans.

Our experience maybe but not our opinions. I can just imagine the reaction on this forum if Americans started telling us what we should do with our anthem and what languages should be used to sing it.

Bush is the President. If he believes the anthem should only be sung in English, he should say so and he did. Save us from politicians who say what they believe. I believe his Spanish is very good so it's not like he can't understand it.

[Leafless]

Riverwind

You wrote- " Canadians have been dealing with a powerful linguistic minority for 140 years. Our experience is relevant to Americans."

How is this linguistic minority powerful?

Canadians have not been dealing with this linguistic minority as it was the primarily the federal Liberals a federal party with heavy Quebec infiltration.

Seventy-five seats federal seats don't really have to count for NOTHING if the country choses.

I only wish we had the leadership in Canada as they do in the U.S.

[Guest Warwick Green]

What does this have to with Canada/US Relations? It's the American's national anthem. Canadians should keep their opinions to themselves.

Canadians have been dealing with a politically demanding linguistic minority for 140 years. Our experience is relevant to Americans.

Our experience maybe but not our opinions. I can just imagine the reaction on this forum if Americans started telling us what we should do with our anthem and what languages should be used to sing it.

Bush is the President. If he believes the anthem should only be sung in English, he should say so and he did. Save us from politicians who say what they believe. I believe his Spanish is very good so it's not like he can't understand it.

Hard to tell if this is going to a real issue or a one-day wonder. With the immigration issue simmering there will be those who will want to politicize the idea of the national anthem in Spanish. I would expect it would backfire though. I doubt there are many Americans who want to hear a Sapnish version of the Star Spangled Banner. For many, the US is already going down a linguistic slippery slope.

[Black Dog]

Bush speaks English?!?

[Drea]

What difference does it make what language any country's anthem is sung in?

As long as the people singing it feel the patriotism

IMO it would be hard NOT to feel patriotic when you're singing the anthem of your country! Whether or not you speak the language or were born there -- people should just appreciate that these immigrants care enough to sing the anthem at all.

English - Oh Canada we stand on guard for thee!

German - OH- Kanada, das wir auf Schutz für thee stehen!

French - Oh Canada que nous nous tenons sur la garde pour le thee!

Spanish - ¡Oh Canadá que estamos parados en el protector para el thee!

Arabic - يا كندا نقف علي الحرس انت!

Chinese - 加拿大为保护好我们站在你!

[Leafless]

Drea

You wrote- " What difference does it make any country's anthem is sung in."

Well, why don't you try pulling that off in France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy etc.

I have a hard time understanding your type of rational especially pertaining to the U.S. and Canada as if they belong to countries of the world.

Why don't you get your act together and show a little respect for English the defacto language of the U.S. and Canada with some U.S states with English language legislation.

Both these countries are not devoid of a history and both are proud of our English language and traditions and culture just as cother countries are proud of theirs.

[Michael Hardner]

Both these countries are not devoid of a history and both are proud of our English language and traditions and culture just as cother countries are proud of theirs.

Why should we be proud of a language we ripped off from another country ?

In order to solve these problems once and for all, I propose two new languages: Canadian and American.

Canadian will be phased in over a six month period, commencing with Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play. Rather than having gender-based pronouns, we'll have pronouns based upon the current windchill.

American will consist of one article - "tha" - one verb - "tha" - and celebrity names.

[Leafless]

Michael Hardner

You wrote- " We should be proud of a language we ripped off from another country?"

In the case of the U.S the original yanks were previously British, no rip off there with the U.S proudly using the English language ever since..

In the case of Canada the language was bestowed upon us by Britain since the win on the Plains of Abraham, no rip of there with the Queen of England still Head of State.

[Drea]

I show a little smiley face...

and you type this...

Why don't you get your act together

It's not really THAT serious of a topic.

Boo Hoo

[geoffrey]

Do remember that the Canadian national anthem isn't the same in both languages. French Canadians sing a different tune, with completely different meaning.

This is the English translation of the French version:

O Canada! Land of our forefathers

Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.

As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,

So also is it ready to carry the cross.

Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.

Thy valour steeped in faith

Will protect our homes and our rights

Will protect our homes and our rights.

And our English anthem hasn't even been the same in recent times.

In 1901, this was how it was sung to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall:

O Canada! Our fathers' land of old

Thy brow is crown'd with leaves of red and gold.

Beneath the shade of the Holy Cross

Thy children own their birth

No stains thy glorious annals gloss

Since valour shield thy hearth.

Almighty God! On thee we call

Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall,

Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall.

In B.C., this one was popular:

O Canada, our heritage, our love

Thy worth we praise all other lands above.

From sea to see throughout their length

From Pole to borderland,

At Britain's side, whate'er betide

Unflinchingly we'll stand

With hearts we sing, "God save the King",

Guide then one Empire wide, do we implore,

And prosper Canada from shore to shore.

Then by 1980 it was finalised as the current rendition.

So really, we are not ones to be critical of the US having a flap over their anthem. The two societies in Canada don't even sing the same one, and we didn't have an offical English one until over 100 years after our nation was formed.

EDIT: Should have probably shown my source... you can find it here.

[Black Dog]

U.S. President George Bush has criticized a new Spanish-language version of the American national anthem, written as an ode to immigrants seeking a better life.

U.S. President George Bush has criticized the new Spanish-language version of the American anthem.

"I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English," Bush remarked when asked at a news conference at the White House Friday.

Funny, because he sang a different tune a while ago:

The State Department posts four Spanish versions of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on its Web site, and accounts from the 2000 election suggest that the song was at times performed in Spanish at Bush campaign events.

[Leafless]

geoffrey

You wrote- " and we didn't have an official English one until over 100 years after our nation was formed."

We did have an official national anthem for all of Canada called "God Save the Queen" until 1966 when Lester Pearson introduced the first official version of ' Oh Canada'.

This was already posted in this same thread several post back.

[geoffrey]

geoffrey

You wrote- " and we didn't have an official English one until over 100 years after our nation was formed."

We did have an official national anthem for all of Canada called "God Save the Queen" until 1966 when Lester Pearson introduced the first official version of ' Oh Canada'.

This was already posted in this same thread several post back.

My apologies. Thanks for that.

Doesn't change that French and English Canadians sing anthems with completely different meanings.

[Leafless]

geoffrey

You wrote- " Doesn't change the fact Canadians sing anthems with completley different meanings."

And you said " We didn't have an official English one until over 100 years after our nation was formed."

I guess being official does not have much meaning in Quebec.

So if Quebecers sing their own version of 'Oh Canada' with a different words and meaning then officially Canada does not have an 'official' national anthem.

This suggest that Quebec is a country separate from Canada.

This does not say much for national unity despite Canada trying hard to appease Quebec by abolishing 'God Save the Queen' in favour of 'Oh Canada'.