I just seen this news article about the National Anthem being sung in spanish on Ellis Island.
This throughly disgusts me and I am sure my ancestors are spinning in their graves. My Great Grandfather's family and another of my Great Grandfathers family all came through Ellis Island in search of a better life.
They came to america from Scottland and Ireland, speaking no english but learned it quickly so they could become american. They were proud to become american and embraced everything about america.
And here are illegal criminals standing on the very sacred place where my ancestors stood, singing america's national anthem in spanish.
What a disgrace.
My ancestors would never think of doing that, they thought it would have disgraced the national anthem.
You criminals are a disgrace to everyones ancestors that came to america, waited in line and blended into american culture. They never asked for special services so they could fit in, they never took hand-outs, they worked hard for a living, they learned the language so they could fit in and they took pride in singing the national anthem in english, they way it's is suppose to be sung.
What I write below is just my personal opinion, no offence intended. I may be misinformed about the anthem issue, for instance I don't understand why you say "you criminals": are you refering to all Hispanics, to anyone who dares sing the national anthem in their own language, or to the particular singers involved in this case?
I'm not American, but I've always admired American and the Americans for achieving what I believe no other nation in the world has been capable of or seems likely to: harmony among so many different nationalities who all take pride in being part of a great nation. For this reason I consider it a victory when immigrants contribute to American culture and/or adapt it so as to feel themselves part of their new home country. "Nuestro himno" is just a translation of the national anthem (remember: they are expressing ideals such as freedom and equality!) and I'm sure it was not intended as an insult. In my opinion, there's no possibility of preserving "purity" in a world that becomes more and more hybrid everyday. Having cultures in contact makes us strong and tolerant, and it's the very basis of America. The fact that immigrants some decades ago did not enjoy the privileges and opportunities that are available today does not seem to me like a compelling reason for denying them to incoming immigrants.
Sorry if I misinterpreted you in some way, I was a bit shocked to read a comment that might be understood as a bit narrow-minded in such a nice blog.
But the immigrants today are not embracing america, they are saying "america you should adjust to me". It's great that people bring their cultures to america and blend them with out cultures, but to put their culture over america is what I have a problem with. When people feel that we should be speaking their language, have forms in their language, voting ballots in their language it seems that they are not embracing america but trying to change america to their old country.
By singing the national anthem in spanish it is saying that they feel that we should conform to them, that they should not have to change for america. The national anthem is american not spanish. They are disgracing the national anthem by saying they feel it is beneath them to sing it in english.
Posted by: Quality Weenie at May 31, 2006 06:42 PMWell said! And you're 100% right. We are a nation that is built upon those who came here to seek a new and better way of life. But its one in which they contributed to the fabric of the country and made it their country. Not a country that is supposed to adapt and conform to them.
That's where I take exception and find it disrespectful that someone comes here illegally, won't learn the English language, won't make attempts to become a US citizen and then becomes indignant that I do not want them to stay...where is the problem? Our ancestors would never have acted that way, tolerated that to happen or stand idly by and let it happen.
These colors don't run.
Posted by: Lee Ann at June 2, 2006 07:42 AMPilar - much as I try to understand why Hispanic people want to translate our National Anthem, I just can't quite do it. Maybe translate the words on paper so those learning the language can understand what is being said, but to do a wholesale makeover? No!
I haven't heard of this happening with any other country's National Anthem - why ours? It's written in English because English is the language of this country. People who come here - from anywhere in the world - need to understand that. If you want to live here - ADAPT to us, don't expect us to adapt to you! If we went to any other country in the world and wanted to live there, we would have to do the same. Why is this so difficult to understand?
It's a total insult to the American people, people who are already citizens, to tell us that we have to change our culture. Yes, we bring in bits of all cultures, but it's done on our terms. What if someone walked into your house and started to tell you what YOU had to do to accomodate THEM. How would you feel? Why do you think this should change on a national level?
Posted by: Teresa at June 2, 2006 12:18 PMPilar: may I present to you the words of Theodore Roosevelt:
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."We take the dregs of other societies in, and they can flourish here. All they have to do...is learn English, and they can go far here. Just ask Ah-nold!