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| President Says National Anthem Should Be Sung in English |
| 2006-04-28 |
| The national anthem should be sung in English - not Spanish - President Bush declared Friday, amid growing restlessness over the millions of immigrants here illegally. "One of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue, that we not lose our national soul," the president exclaimed. "One of the great things about America is that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us." A Spanish language version of the national anthem was released Friday by a British music producer, Adam Kidron, who said he wanted to honor America's immigrants. Well, then, why didn't he do it in German or Gaelic, since more Americans are descended from people who originally spoke those languages? When the president was asked at a Rose Garden question-and-answer session whether the anthem should be sung in Spanish, he replied: "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English." He made his remarks on the matters during a wide-ranging briefing with reporters. "I think people who want to be citizens of this country ought to learn English," Bush said. The president's comments came amid a burgeoning national debate - and congressional fight - over legislation pending in Congress, and pushed by Bush, to overhaul U.S. immigration law. Bush called on lawmakers to move forward on legislation - now stalled - that would revamp immigration laws. "I want a comprehensive bill," Bush said that includes enforcement as well as giving temporary worker status to some illegal immigrants. Large numbers of immigrant groups have planned an economic boycott next week to dramatize their call for legislation providing legal status for millions of people in the United States illegally. "You know, I'm not a supporter of boycotts," Bush said. " I am a supporter of comprehensive immigration ... I think most Americans agree that we've got to enforce our border. I don't think there's any question about that." His remarks followed release of the Spanish language version of the song, called "Nuestro Himno" or "Our Anthem." And just in case you wanted to sing along....here's the lyrics.... ''Nuestro Himno'' Lyrics Excerpts Verso 1 ¿Amenece, lo veis?, a la luz de la aurora? Lo que tanto aclamamos la noche caer? Sus estrellas sus franjas flotaban ayer En el fiero combate en señal de victoria, Fulgor de lucha, al paso de la libertada, Por la noche decían: "¡Se va defendiendo!" Coro: ¡Oh decid! ¿Despliega aún Voz a su hermosura estrellada, Sobre tierra de libres, la bandera sagrada? Verso 2 Sus estrellas, sus franjas, la libertad, somos iquales Somos hermanos, en nuestro himno. En el fiero combate en señal de victoria, Fulgor de lucha, al paso de la libertada, Mi gente sigue luchando yah es tiempo de romper las cadenas Por la noche decían: "¡Se va defendiendo!" Coro: ¡Oh decid! Despliega aún su hermosura estrellada AUDIO |
| Posted by:Desert Blondie |
| #6 I notice the title reads "Our Anthem", not the "American Anthem". And with the manipulation of lyrics - not just a bad translation - I'd say trademark infringement at the least! |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-04-28 18:15 |
| #5 Let's get Ricky Martin to write the lyrics. Something with a catchy beat, like "La Vida Migra" |
| Posted by: ed 2006-04-28 17:06 |
| #4 For those who dodn't understand Spanish here is my translation (I am a native Spanish speaker, Spanish fgrom Spain not from South America BTW) It dawns do you see it, at the light of the aurora what we so much hailed at the sunset (1) Its stars, its spans, flated yesterday in the fierce fight in sign of victory Blare of fight, at the step of the freedom (2) By the night they were saying: It is defending itself" Chorus Oh, say, does it still deploys (3) Voice (4) over its starred beauty Over land of free (5), the sacred banner (6) Its stars, its spans, THE (7) freedom, we are equal We are brothers in our hymn, In the fierce fight, in sign of vicory Blare of fight, at the step of the freedom My people continue fighting, It is time to break the chains During the night they were saying: It si defending itself" Chorus Oh, say, does it still deploys (1) Here the original text has incorrect Spanish grammar (2) Word who doesn't exists in Spanish (3) The original Spanish word means deploy, unfold not display (4) Voice or scream (5) free without telling more (eg free men) is quite atrocious in Spanish or French (6) And sacred has a strong religuous meaning in Spanish, specally when you tell bandera sagrada like in the song instead of sagrada bandera (unlike normal spanish practice sagrada is usually placed before the name (7) Freedom would sound better in English but in the Spanish it says LA libertad not libertad |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-04-28 17:02 |
| #3 Also, the Spanish text is atrocious and stupid. Many words in the proposed text simply dont exist and are deformations of existing words (libertada instead of libertad), ptiful tricks in order to shoehorn the text into the music. Because quite siimply Spanish has a different rythmic than English so finding words who keeep the meaning than the original version AND go with the music AND rhyme is enormously difficult. It ios like translating a poem (very, very, very hard) except with the added complication of having to stick to the music. Not something who can be done by a two bit loser like this guy. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-04-28 16:25 |
| #2 Where's the part that says, Then conquer we must when our cause it is just and this be our motto In God is Our Trust. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-28 16:19 |
| #1 The day idiots will fly this guy is going to be the first man to leave the galaxy. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-04-28 16:15 |