One of the hallmarks of cultural xenophobia is the fear of “foreign loan words in a national language,” according to Wikipedia. This type of cultural xenophobia was very evident as several Latin musicians have gotten together to record a Spanish-language version of what its artist call the Spanish Star-Spangled Banner, titled “Nuestro Himno,” in honor of the immigrants seeking a better life.
Responding quickly to “Nuestro Himno,” it was clear that the Borg Collective was all in a tizzy about this matter.
Talk radio in the Bay Area and elsewhere have devoted a lot of time on the subject, inflaming the recent national debate on immigration reform. Opponents of amnesty, the path to citizenship that illegal immigrants are calling for, denounced Kidron.
“It’s just one more evidence that we have as a result of massive immigration, we’ve created these social divisions that really threaten the unity of this country,” said Ira Mehlman, a Los Angeles spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national group that advocates for strict limits to immigration.
Even the descendants of Francis Scott Key, the man who originally penned the poem Star-Spangled Banner has added their two cents. Charles Key, great great grandson of Francis Scott, was quoted saying,
“I think it’s despicable that somebody would go into our society from another country and change our national anthem!”
On NPR’s Day to Day, George Key, another descendant of Francis Scott Key, said:
There was a man standing out on a ship watching the city of Baltimore being bombarded by the British at the time. […] Had we lost that part of the war, we would be British subjects today. It was the second revolutionary war. And so for somebody to come in here now, who doesn’t understand the concept of why that was written and the hardships that were endured by these people – they just don’t understand what they’re doing.
It makes you wonder if the Keys still have resentment towards the British considering it was written and produced by British-born Adam Kidron, president of Urban Box Office music (UBO.com).
Even the Shrub decided to take a swipe at the controversy. Dudya told reporters he felt the anthem should be performed in English. “One of the important things here is that we not lose our national soul.” Given the fact that Dudya was all about nationalism, one does have to wonder, if the whole national anthem debate was the reason for him declaring May 1st Loyalty Day.
Loyalty Day is also a time for us to reflect on our responsibilities to our country as we work to show the world the meaning and promise of liberty. The right to vote is one of our most cherished rights and voting is one of our most fundamental duties. By making a commitment to be good citizens, flying the American flag, or taking the time to learn about our Nation’s history, we show our gratitude for the blessings of freedom.
What is Loyalty Day and way was it made a big deal? Loyalty Day has actually be around since the 1920s.
The holiday was first celebrated in the 1920s as Americanization Day, and was intended to serve as a counterweight to May Day…
Funny how he made sure people were aware of this forgotten holiday on the day of El Gran Boicot, which also happen to be May Day and the recent debate about the anthem. Aww yes, the old tried-and-true neo-con mantra – Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
In an interview with CNN’s John King, it seems that First Lady Laura Bush has a different view which was reported by AP. It doesn’t seem to be getting that much attention because of her different take on this matter. Her message to Dudya and the rest of the xenophobic cyborg nation is to get over themselves.
Mrs. Bush said, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with singing it in Spanish.”
She noted that “we are a nation of many, many languages” and that the country has already heard many versions of the anthem “like at the Super Bowl.”
“What people want is it to be sung in a way that respects the United States and our culture,” she said.
One thing that is very suspicious is her backtracking when it was pointed out that Dudya answer was not the same as hers.
But when it was pointed out that this position differed from her husband’s, Mrs. Bush had a different answer.
“Well, I think it should be sung in English, of course,” she said.
Very interesting. So why would she be in favor of it being sung in Spanish, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with singing it in Spanish.” then do a 180 and say nope, it should be sung in English, “I think it should be sung in English.”
I guess she was not given the updated meme or it could be she is recalling a time when Dudya sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish at Hispanic festivals or she was recalling the time she heard it sung in Spanish by Jon Secada at her first inaugural ceremony or maybe the librarian in her remembered seeing some where that the U.S. government had commissioned four different Spanish-language versions, La bandera de las estrellas of “The Star Spangled Banner,” back in 1919.
Either way, I think her first answer is her true answer and it is very telling and very clear. GET OVER YOUR XENOPHOBIC SELF!!!
