Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

Apparently there is some debate on the National Anthem being translated into Spanish.

The pros of it say, "Why not, the foreign language speakers should have a sense of patriotism."

The cons say, "They should learn how to speak English, we are not unified if we don't have one language.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with converting the National Anthem into Spanish.

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No, I lied. I'm never going to have a good sig. So just forget about it.

I don't like this idea at all. People who want to become citizens should learn the language. It's simple as that. If I moved to France, I wouldn't sing "La Marseillaise" in English, so why should our national anthem be in Spanish?

I've read the English translation of the Spanish lyrics, and it just doesn't capture the same essence as that night in 1814 "when our flag was still there". This new anthem is basically an American patriotic song, sung in Spanish.

President Bush doesn't even like this idea!

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Considering the fact that the tune of our own national anthem is the tune of an old English (read: British) drinking song, I'm sort of undecided on this one...I mean, it would seem a bit hypocritical of us for that reason...but at the same time, I don't like what I've heard about the words being completely rewritten in the translation.

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The meaning of life is 'bucket.'

FOR PONY!!!

Me neither...and you won't wanna hear the remix; it has a few English lines that condemn our immigration laws.

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Translating, fine.

Adding whole new ideas to a song and putting it into another language is not translating.

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Our national anthem is sung in both French and English. At hockey games and the like, it's sung half-and-half, verse by verse. I think that if a country (any country) has more than one official language, the anthem should be translated.

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Pues, creo que es un buena idea que nostotros no hagamos nada con qué ya tenemos (completement, por lo menos)

I'm willing to bet not too many people understood that - sans Google, anyways. Well, I think it'd be okay to translate it, but not have it as an official version, if that makes sense. My thought is that a readily translated version would help those in the process of learning English get it quicker. But on the other hand, I am completely against changing the thing just to yell out against something or other.

Also, on the topic of the anthem as it is, a reason that the Star Spangled Banner was to the tune of a drinking song was essentially so that everybody would know the tune offhand. (An interesting side note - the anthem didn't used oto be our official anthem until the Olympics started up. At that time there was two groups basically that each wanted a different song. When the time came around to "sing the US national anthem" the star spanglesd banner guy got there first. The things you learn in history class)

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This... this is actually an issue? Why would anyone be opposed to a translation? I'm honestly baffled.

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You and me both.

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True Words, DG. Honestly, you people against translating the national anthem make me sick.

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No, I lied. I'm never going to have a good sig. So just forget about it.

Well, if they want to do it, that is quite fine with me.

I really cannot think of any argument to be agaisn't it.

Please read all previous posts before being baffled.

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I did, and I still don't know where they're coming from.

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Excellent point. However, America only has one official language. I agree with Ian: no other country would bend over so far backward to accommodate immigrants.

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-Kate

Here you go, Jello.

link

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Actually, as it's been said before, AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. Maybe we should, but we don't.

As for the "no other country would bend over so far backwards" bit, have you ever been to any country in Europe? If you have I needn't say more. If you haven't, well, you should. You'd be suprised how many places you hear english spoken.

I don't actually have a problem with foreign language versions of the national anthem, either. It's a beautiful song, and the more people that understand it, the more people will realize how great it is. Like Lahi, I DO have a problem with it being changed to make a "statement".

I think there's gonna be a lot of backlash, just like this whole "day without an immigrant" thing.

These people really fail to think things through.

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

I can tell you one thing... Europeans do not learn English to accomodate Americans. They do it because it's the language of business, among other reasons, none of which are because they love people from the United States.

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I didn't say they did it because they love Americans. The fact remains, though. You can usually get by in other countries with English a lot better then people from those countries would get by here with their native language.

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Nothing wrong with translating it.
However, the anthem lost its meaning in most translations, and in the other, just lost its patriotism.

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GENGHIS KHAN!!!!!

Well, colour me misinformed. I always thought the official languages were English and Spanish. Huh.

Well, anyway, because of the large Spanish-speaking population, I think it's only fair. But from what I know, that great neighbour of ours is not always fair. No offence intended there, guys. Please don't freak out.

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Well, upon reading my post, I'm not sure I said my opinion just right.

I don't see any problem with having a Spanish translation of the anthem, jut as how other nations have theirs in multiple forms. I do not, however, think that the anthem should be changed (in only the translated version or otherwise) in order to voice political opinions. It's the Anthem for crying out loud, not a soapbox on the street corner.

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Yeah I'm not sure I get this. Do they want to just translate it? Because if they do: who cares? YOU don't have to sing it Spanish, just the Spainsh-speakers. And they aren't trying to change the anthem into Spanish. That would never happen. For the people who don't want it translated: what is your argument? I think I'm a little confused.

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Dag, yo.

The issue is that a spanish version of the national anthem was recorded, and copies are being sold with proceeds going to immigrant "rights" groups. Ok, that's fair enough, someone makes money, they can do whatever they want with it.
The issue is that, supposedly, parts of it are changed to criticize America and its policies on immigration. Also, there is supposed to be a version this summer with several spoken lines (in english) criticizing immigration policies.

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Whether it's morally right or not doesn't matter, though. They have the right to do it, under the first amendment.

Really, I could only oppose it from an aesthetics point of view. I find Spanish to be an ugly language... even compared to English.

The first amendment is only valid for US citizens, though .
Sorry.. I had to say it.

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Haha, yeah. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt. What can I say, I'm a no-ice guy...

Strong Rad does have a point, though. People get so used to everyone having the same rights, but the simple fact is that many of these people are not in fact citizens and don't have rights. I think a deeper issue at hand is how much rights does a non-citizen have? Should they be entitled to at least some rights? I don't know, but I wonder what you all think.

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I don't think illegal aliens should be entitled to any more rights than anyone else who comits a crime (but how severe is the crime of illegal immigration?). The national anthem sung in Spanish does bother me to an extent, but it could be worse. It could be Russian.

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O говорят, что Вы можете видеть ранним светом рассвета
что так гордо мы приветствовали при последнем блеске сумерек

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I grew up in the 80's. Can you imagine how weird that'd been back then?

That translates back all strange, though. OMG It's Rushglish!

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.