When A Spanish National Anthem Might Be Appropriate
04/28/2006
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I got a letter on my post, Star-Spangled Spanglish.

Juan Jimenez wrote from San Juan, Puerto Rico:

Funny that you should call the translated version of the Star Spangled Banner a parody, when YOUR version is in fact a parody of an old English drinking song. What a pity that your parents chose not to send you to a school that would have given you a true education... BTW, this Hispanic vowed to give his life for what the country stands for, including all people of all languages and all races/ethnic backgrounds, INCLUDING THOSE IMMIGRANTS TO BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY, legal or not. What have you done for your country other than whine and parasite?

Juan Jimenez, San Juan, PR Ciudadano DE NACIMIENTO Veterano de la Infantería de Marina

I wrote back this:

I'm afraid you're mistaken on my comments on the National Anthem.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a Spanish-speaking American singing the national anthem as "La bandera de las estrellas." That's a translation, not a parody. This is a made-up version with new lyrics.

See this version here for one that might be appropriate. There are at least four legitimate translations, which is the problem with translations in general, and I think singing it in English should be the standard, but of course Puerto Rico is a special case as far as language is concerned.

The version they're singing is more of an anti-American anthem, which is also anti-military, as in the update, below.

While I have never done anything as useful as service in the USMC, (we have at least two Marines on Vdare.com) I am in favor of protecting the US from invasion, unlike, say, Raoul Lowery Contreras, (also a Marine.)

Raoul Lowery Contreras, you see, after serving his country in uniform, has changed sides. (Kind of like John Kerry, during the Vietnam War.)

Unlike the men of the (very) Old Corps who stormed the Heights of Chapultepec, and carried "La Bandera De Las Estrellas "into the Halls of Montezuma, he now wants the descendants of Montezuma to come storming back

Anyhow, here, again are the lyrics of what is NOT the National Anthem in Spanish.

Coro: Oh, decid! Despliega aun su hermosura estrellada,/Sobre tierra de libres, la bandera sagrada?

Chant:

It’s time to make a difference the kids, men and the women/Let’s stand for our beliefs, let’s stand for our vision/What about the children los ninos como P-Star

These kids have no parents, cause all of these mean laws.

See this can’t happen, not only about the Latins.

Asians, blacks and whites and all they do is adding more and more, let’s not start a war with all these hard workers, they can’t help where they were born.

 

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