U.S. National Anthem in Spanish
By now, everyone’s heard the hub-bub about the Star Spangled Banner being sung in loose translation in Spanish.
Apparently some are offended by this.
I’m not.
I love it when the Republicans further undermine their credibility with the hispanic population.
However, rather than estimating the political fallout, let us have a discussion about principle. First, we ought to separate some fact from national myth. There is no official language of the United States. There have been attempts to amend Title 4 of the Unites States Code to have English adopted as the official language, but this has not been done yet.
What IS law, is something called the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. For those unfamiliar with this amendment, it ensures free speech (and freedom of religion) to all in the United States by preventing Congress from abridging free speech. As such, the singing of the national anthem is Spanish, Swahili, or even Arabic is fully legal and protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Now, if some people feel that this is wrong, it is their free right to feel that way. However, I find it very disingenuous. There doesn't seem to have been much guilt over the white people not having learned Iriquois when they immigrated to America. Why should English have greater sacredness in America than Iriquois, Navajo, Mandan, etc.? Is it because it is simply more prevalent?
On a slightly different note: The Minutemen claim to be reasonable people upset with illegal immigration. They claim not to be racist and to have many latino members. Anyone believing that ought to read the Minutemen HW blog – especially the comments concerning the national anthem (here). These people make my stomach turn.
posted by Anonymous at
4/28/2006 10:02:00 PM
6 Comments:
Hey, Michael great article and I want to say that I sympathize with your argument but I think you are missing an important point. The National Anthem is a national SYMBOL and like the American Flag is considered sacred within the context of our culture. If the purpose of the Spanish version of the anthem was to honor America and its ideals then the producers of this album should have chosen another song. For instance America the Beautiful could have better suited their cause. I see it as an unfortunate mistake. Rules #1 always expect a negative outcome when messing with such powerful national symbols.
By
Todd Bucy, at Friday, April 28, 2006 10:39:00 PM
yes you are right some of the critics would be upset no matter what. However had they chosen a different song it might be that only the most virelent would voice thier oposition. In which case that virelent oposition would be relatively small and would contain little if no legitimacy. As things stand now this song gives theses racist and so-called Patriots a powerful symbolic weapon to hit us over the head with.
By
Todd Bucy, at Saturday, April 29, 2006 6:38:00 AM
Michael,
You assume too much of Americans.
First, let me say that you are right about this being cultural chauvinism, but how is that any different from any other countries' cultural chauvinism? We are not any more evolved, in that respect, than any other country. To assume that we are, as is evidenced by your shock, is in and of itself cultural chauvinism, as it assumes that Americans should (as a matter of course not morality) not exhibit (must less experience) their shock and dismay with the altering of a national symbol of unity. Americans are just like the French, Germans, or the British, or any number of other countries who might show offense at this sort of symbolic "desecration."
And Yes I know that it was a relatively few who recorded and produced this song however those protesting on Monday have chosen to adopt this song in protest and as such take responsibility for the symbolic infraction.
My point is this; if we are trying to convince those that are offended at this act that immigrants (regardless of the immigration status) love this country just as much as they do then perhaps, we should not attempt to alter the nature of our national symbols (especially that one) as it is likely to contribute to a backlash which could set back the cause of immigration rights back. As far as how much this particular incident will contribute to the inevitable backlash remains to be seen but contribute it will.
Again, let me reiterate that I support their right to record any song in any language that they choose I just think that it is unfortunate that they chose that one as those that might be inclined to support immigrant rights might also be insulted by the altering of this particular symbol.
By
Todd Bucy, at Sunday, April 30, 2006 8:37:00 PM
Let me address your first point: First, I agree with you about symbols they can mean anything to anyone. They are very ambiguous in meaning and yet we can all agree that a symbol stands for something specific. When symbols present themselves within the context of a culture as opposed to the individual) we then look at issues of Hegemony and dominant attitudes, and beliefs.
Your second point: As you know, I have very personal experience with Bosnia and am personally familiar with what went on there. I saw it and I know all to well that such a thing is a very real possibility in America. So I understand your distress but I don't think that the racism that you are seeing is as widespread as you think it is also don't confuse peoples anger over the National anthem with Racism they are not necessarily the same thing.
Finally, I did not mean to insult you by implying that you were displaying a form of left-wing intellectual chauvinism. I apologize I was merely pointing out that even you must recognize the power of symbols within the context of our own worldview. If the national anthem can bring about such a reaction when altered then you must accept the power of the symbol. Denouncing the symbol (or symbols in general) does not diminish their power.
By
Todd Bucy, at Tuesday, May 02, 2006 11:33:00 AM
Now we are getting somewhere!
I think that you have identified Part of what it is to be an American (our self-identification and worldview) is that we speak English.
It goes like this: "If I am an American and I speak English than in order for you to be an American you should speak English too." This is the basic line of thought with the people who offended by the Spanish version of the National Anthem. I know what you are going to say: "this is bad we should oppose this" and on one level I agree with you. However, you must remember that this comes down to a matter of group-identification and by extension self-identification and that changes very slowly and not very willingly.
Now it is not as bad as it sounds because at one level this language identification is very broad. We do not exclude those dialects, which might sound foreign to our ears as long as it is Spanish. I know that it is not much, but is it not at least better than say Parisian waiters are. Ha-Ha!
Do not think that I am minimizing the dangers; I think that those of us who are critical of our great nation (in any of its various forms) often forget to recognize our country's achievements. This often contributes to the cultural backlash we are seeing. (Remember who the new majority will be in the year 2030 and the current majority and other powerful minorities know it) As such, I still maintain that it was a bad idea on the part of the producers, singers, supporters, and protest organizers to adopt this particular song. They would have been much better off using America the Beautiful. (That should be the National Anthem anyways)
By
Todd Bucy, at Tuesday, May 02, 2006 10:15:00 PM
A few points:
1. This translation business is really nothing new, and only rendered remarkable by politics. In 1919, the US Bureau of Education commissioned a Spanish-language version of the Star Spangled Banner (Himno nacional - La Bandera de Estrellas). The State Department's website features no less than four separate versions of the anthem in Spanish. It was also translated into German in 1861, Yiddish by Jewish immigrants, French by Louisiana Acadians, and Samoan by American Samoa.
2. Michael's instinct is correct. The Spanish "Nuestro Himno" (which is not really a Spanish version of the Anthem so much as an Anthem-inspired patriotic song set to the same tune) was released on April 28, three days before the May 1 demonstrations. I also do not recall a single mention in any news story about the song being sung.
3. I have a sneaking suspicion that if a version had been released in, say, Korean, it would have barely merited comment, and what attention would have been paid would have been along the lines of praise for the scrappy, hardworking Asian immigrant community who love their adopted country so much. And heck, that would be true. I speak English pretty well, and I still wish I could sing a Chinese version of the Anthem for my relatives. It would just be neat to have one, not for any political reason, but just because it's, well, neat.
By
Anonymous, at Sunday, July 02, 2006 9:36:00 PM
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