Friday, April 28, 2006; Posted: 2:08 p.m. EDT (18:08 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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 Star-Spangled Banner" was released Friday by a British music producer, Adam Kidron, who said he wanted to honor America's immigrants.
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."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
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."
THAT is one of the smartest things I've ever heard the man say.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
I don't think it matters, this is just needless whining.
As someone else stated in response to this story:
quote:
If the Catholic church allows mass to be translated into Spanish, where do we get off acting so holy about the national anthem? We don't have an official language. Either quit complaining about this sort of thing or get English declared the official language!
My attitude is it's art and music, let people do with it as they please. I would actually like to hear our national anthem in all different languages and styles of music, that would be a pretty cool CD.
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
- Bill Cosby
The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.
- Gordon Parks
I think that this goes much deeper than the anthem being sung in spanish. It's about the language of the country. It might not be "official" but this is America, where people speak ENGLISH! If you go to someone else's country, do you EXPECT them to speak english? No! It's their country. You go to Germany, they speak german. In France, they speak french. If you move there... you should know, or be really learning, that language.
Me, personally... I'm tired of going into a business and having english be the minority language.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
I've never walked into a business where English is a minority language, I have yet to see this occur. The only time where I've seen people that did not speak English well was in the Dining Hall in college, it ranged from Polish to Chinese, but they could serve the food and communicate with students in that regard. The more important communication is with people, the more English people will know, I think this is the case with any country. The service jobs in countries with a sizable immigrant population will not always have people that are fluent.
I still think since we don't have an official language, any language will do since they're singing the National Anthem, but I think you're more likely to see people speaking multiple languages in other countries (except for maybe Japan).
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
- Bill Cosby
The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.
- Gordon Parks
Is this new Spanish Star Spangled Banner a direct translation into Spanish, or are some of the lyrics different as well? I have heard both ways on the news.
Actually this isn't even the Star Spangled Banner, the words are different. But how do people feel about the Black National Anthem, that is a great song and many functions I've gone to in college have played it.
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
- Bill Cosby
The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.
- Gordon Parks
ICB if you spent more time in Southern California, you would find many businesses where English is rarely spoken. These immigrants refuse to learn the language.
If they really want to be a part of this country, they should show some respect and learn English.
EXACTLY! Well put, Sher. It's very frustrating here. And it does happen a lot. You might not have run in to it, ICB... but out here, we have it happen all over. That's really frustrating.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Florida is the same way. You can go into restaurants where nobody is speaking English. It is not a trivial matter. In terms of our national identity, this has always been considered a melting pot. Part of the deal is that immigrants have to melt.
That's why I said... if you move to another country, LEARN THEIR LANGUAGE! I would NEVER be so rude, or ignorant, or anything else, as to relocate to another country and not learn the language, and the customs. I just find it disgusting that people come here and have no respect in that fashion, and then get pissed at us for not catering to them.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Lawless said this in post #12 : Try calling ANY business, anywhere, and it's in english and spanish. But, you're right... San Diego has it, everywhere. *sigh*
I don't think it matters if it has a recording in both. I mean it's customer service. If you went into a bank to get a loan out or something and the agent doesn't speak english, well then OBVIOUSLY, that's retarded. I agree that people should be able to communicate in English when doing business. Otherwise, some people feel more comfortable reading things or getting things explained to them in their native language. I don't know, it's a thin line for me. But I do agree that any sort of business person should speak english since we're in America.
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04-28-2006 08:33 PM
