Help debunking this email

[liberal N proud]

I received this email message today claiming that the National Anthem has never been sung in anything but english. I recall something a while back about this and I am sure that there is something to the contrary but could not find it on the net.

Anyone have any ideas?

Here is what the email said:

I am sorry but after hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Span! ish - enough is enough. No where did they sing it in Italian, Japanese, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German, Portuguese, Greek, French, or any other language because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. The news broadcasts even gave the translation -- not even close. Sorry if this offends anyone but this is MY COUNTRY - IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY SPEAK UP ---- please pass this along~
I am not against immigration -- just come through like everyone else. Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past -- and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

PART OF THE PROBLEM

Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-----YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM !!!!

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????
</> Think about it!


</>
</> IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.
</ >

It is Time for America to Speak up If you agree -- pass

[EstimatedProphet]

1. My rebuttal: WHO FUCKING CARES?

[hobbit709]

2. The idiots who send this crap

will not listen to reason so why bother responding

[helderheid]

3. IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.

Emmm



Edited to add:

http://www.markfiore.com/animation/phobia.html

"Quit changing the map, dangit!"

[niyad]

4. others can help you debunk--but "this is my country" would have gotten, "this is MY country, too,

and quite frankly, ignorant, bigoted assholes like you are an embarrassment to me. will you please leave!"

[HCE SuiGeneris]

5. The delete key is your friend...

[Fresh_Start]

6. George Bush approved of it in Spanish

(of course, that was when he was trying to get Spanish speaking Americans votes)

But Bush’s highly-scripted 2001 inaugural ceremony actually featured a rendition of the national anthem sung in Spanish by Jon Secada. From Cox News Service, 1/18/01:

The opening ceremony reflected that sentiment. A racially diverse string of famous and once famous performers entertained Bush, soon-to-be First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney and his wife, Lynne, who watched on stage from a special viewing area.

Pop star Jon Secada sang the national anthem in English and Spanish.

Apparently, Secada singing the anthem in Spanish was a regular feature of the Bush campaign. From the 8/3/00 Miami Herald:

The nominee, his wife Laura, erstwhile rival John McCain and his wife Cindy joined Bush on a platform where children sang the national anthem - in “Spanglish,” Secada explained.

[liberal N proud]

9. Sending that back should give them a little fire

[Texasgal]

7. Something seems fishy here

I wonder if this has been debunked.

I'm gonna check out snopes.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Did the Italians sing it in Italian or English during WWII?

Does it really translate well into other languages?

[mcg]

10. Himno nacional - La Bandera de Estrellas

A post at
http://www.appletreeblog.com/?p=433
points out that 'There are four different versions of the National Anthem that appear on the State Department’s website.' (referring to Spanish versions)

http://usinfo.state.gov/esp/home/topics/us_society_values/national_symbols/anthem_spanish.html

Another post at http://althouse.blogspot.com/2006/04/star-spangled-bannernuestro-himno.html
states 'In addition to Yiddish, the Star Spangled Banner has been translated into German (in 1861), French, and Polish. Just this year, American Samoa proposed making the Samoan translation their official song. Links are here.'
http://alittlereality.blogspot.com/2006/04/nuestro-himno.html

The tune is from "The Anacreontic Song", the official song of the Anacreontic Society.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Anacreon_in_Heaven

[NoPasaran]

11. Oh dear, someone should tell that to the US Government

Seems they commissioned a Spanish-language version back in 1919.
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/02/spanish-anthem/

[mcg]

17. Oy vey, can you see ...

A quote from the article 'Oy vey, can you see...' (it's good)
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/05/07/oy_vey_can_you_see/
"But within days, commentators had turned up German versions dating to the mid 1800s, a Spanish-language version from 1919 created by the US government as part of a pro-assimilation campaign, and at least two Yiddish versions commissioned by Jewish groups in the 1940s."

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

12. This is my country too. WELCOME !

Come on in. While your doing that I think I will take a walk through the rest of the whole world, after all it belongs to all of us. ENJOY! We're all one family. Peace be with us all.

[Bitwit1234]

13. In my estimation

any foreign people(s) that sign the National Anthem in their language is honoring our country. They are taking the time to sing it even tho they may not know the English version. I would be proud that they are signing it, not put off. Wouldn't you all.

[ComerPerro]

14. how do they explain away this website, then?

http://www.gop.com/espanol/

[Wapsie B]

15. The target audience for email such as this

does not stop to think things through at all. As for me I could give a shit about what drool comes out of these spammers mouths.

[NMMNG]

16. And how many nations are bilingual/multilingual?

In many nations it is common to teach school children the native language and another language (such as English or another language they'll regularly encounter) as a matter of routine. It seems to be only in America that people think they should have to speak English alone and that people coming here should have to adapt immediately--or else.

[ComerPerro]

18. to paraphrase Eddie Izzard: "Two langauges in one head? Impossible!"

[geardaddy]

19. These types don't know history.

From the Library of Congress website.
In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote new words for a well-known drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," to celebrate America's recent victory over the British. However, only in 1931, following a twenty-year effort during which more than forty bills and joint resolutions were introduced in Congress, was a law finally signed proclaiming "The Star Spangled Banner" to be the national anthem of the United States.

[melody]

20. They need to tell this to Native American tribes

Many of which feature singing of the National Anthem in their native tongue during Pow Wows
and other celebrations.

[Pyrzqxgl]

21. My parents had an album of 78rpm records put out in the early 1940's

put out by The Armed Forces Radio Service that featured the "Star Spangled Banner" sung in Spanish, French, Russian,
Chinese, and even Japanese & German. There was an advertisement on the inside cover that advertised other languages
that were avialable including a variety of Native American languages. I've seen a 16 inch radio transcription disc
that played at 33 1/3rpm that was put out in the late 40's or early 50 (also by AFRS) that was a similar set in a
variety of languages with more up to date arrangements. I suspect that their are even more up to date versions.