Is Singing The Star-Spangled Banner In Spanish Offensive to You?

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was officially made the national anthem by Congress in 1931.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

A group of Hispanic musicians are planning to record a Spanish-language pop version of "The Star-Spangled Banner"

In coming days, producers plan to send the single to Spanish-language radio stations in Chicago and nationwide. The proceeds from "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," will benefit groups organizing massive marches nationwide in support of legalizing illegal immigrants.

By embracing a song that symbolizes American values, immigrants hope to reinforce the message that their desire is to be part of this country, regardless of legal status. [..]

"In our countries, national anthems are a beautiful expression of who we are," said Juan Carlos Ruiz, general coordinator of the Washington-based National Capital Immigration Coalition. "Our immigrant communities want to be a part of this country. We want the American dream."

Music is a big part of the Hispanic culture. Singing the American National Anthem in Spanish, hearing those words in their native tongue will bring more significance to the Anthem. Many Hispanics do to the fact they do know English yet, would delighted to hear the message of the Anthem on poplar Spanish-language radio stations. The message of Anthem will reach countless number of people.

Conservative see a grave threat of looming of ‘their’ National Anthem being disgrace by Hispanics singing the song in Spanish.

But conservative columnists and groups that oppose illegal immigration say the song is a symbolic false note. For them, the project symbolizes a frightening prospect: that Hispanic immigrants do not want to assimilate but want to remake America on their terms. [..]

Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin, in decrying the project, wrote: "Whose anthem, whose flag, whose country is it anyway?" Listeners of conservative radio shows and groups that oppose illegal immigration have seized on the issue, too, and let the studio know.

On the popular Free Republic conservative blog, one reader lamented: "Welcome to the United States of Mexico." Another added: "That makes me sick. Real Americans speak English." A reader of the Immigration Watchdog blog wondered: "'Our Anthem'? My freaking head is about to explode!"

Typical, outrage from American right. Hatred of anything Hispanic now has a home in conservative circles and among American population. I would also like the Hispanic musicians to sing the Anthem in English with a Latin favor, but this too will bring outrage to the general public who think they only have the right to express their love to America and it’s values. The debate of immigration is not about economic and security anymore. It is a debate of race.

Schwarzenegger told reporters about the threats against Villaraigosa and Bustamante during a news conference in his office Monday.

Other elected officials of Mexican heritage have also received threats, Schwarzenegger said, but he did not name them.

Bustamante spokesman Steve Green said the lieutenant governor appeared at some immigration rallies with Villaraigosa in March and received "nasty e-mails" afterward. The death threat - "The only good Mexican is a dead Mexican" - came about three weeks ago on a postcard, he said.

White politicians who support a levelheaded immigration policy are not getting death threats. ‘Only Good Mexican is a Dead Mexican’ rhetoric has framed the debate. Their is no longer and difference between illegal immigrant who only law they broke is crossing in to American to work for a better life and criminals who sell drugs, smugglers, gang members who cause destruction in Hispanic communities in the minds of Conservatives. They are all the same, it was never about sound policy to them. It about hatred of anything Hispanic. Taking offensive of National Anthem sung in Spanish in the latest example of their hate. Yes, I’m Hispanic.

Again, is singing the Star-Spangled Banner in Spanish offensive to you?

No.