US
national anthem in spanish?
Is it acceptable to have a country’s
national anthem sung in any other language,
but the country’s official language? This is
a hotly debated issue in U.S.A., as version
of the U.S. national anthem is being prepared
to be sung in Spanish. Many residents of U.S.A.
have embraced this idea, mostly Hispanic- American
immigrants. However, there are many opponents
of this idea, among them George Bush, president
of United States.
“Flag decorated with shiny stars”
and a song that symbolizes American values was
sung in Spanish. “Nuestro Himno,” or “Our Anthem”,
should allow the non-English-speaking Hispanic
immigrants to embrace the values of a country
where they currently reside. This suggestion
was made by a British music producer Adam Kidron.
However, the song produced many debates. Even
the advocates for immigrant rights were reserved
with their answers when asked about this topic.
Pedro Biaggi, a popular Spanish radio talkshow
host in the U.S., expressed his concern regarding
this event, and hinted that it could negatively
impact numerous Hispanic- American associations
present in U.S.A..
However, Mr. Biaggi defended the
intentions of the anthem’s author:
“Spanish version of the anthem
is filled with love and respect.”
In spite of Mr. Biaggi’s comments,
the opponents to the Spanish version reacted
sharply. One commentator referred to it as “illegal
foreign anthem”. Mark Krikorian, chief of the
Center for Immigration Studies in Washington,
asks:
“Would the French accept their
anthem to be sung in English, as a sign of French
patriotism? - Of course, not.”
The debate finally reached the
White House. President George Bush finally commented:
“National anthem should be sung
in English. I believe that every resident of
U.S.A. should learn English, and should learn
how to sing our anthem in English language.”
The publication of Spanish version
of American anthem coincides with another heavily
debated issue in American politics: the status
of 11 million illegal immigrants currently in
the United States. According to some of the
bills introduced in the Senate, many of these
illegal immigrants should receive U.S. citizenship.
However, House of Representatives approved a
bill that would drastically reduce the chances
of legalizing an illegal alien.
Around 14 percent of U.S. residents,
somewhere around 40 million, is of a Hispanic
origin. It is predicted that in 2020, this figure
would increase to 21 percent.
