The Nappy Cat Chronicles

What appears on the surface to be a uniting endeavor (what can unite American citizens more than a stirring rendition of the “The Star-Spangled Banner”?) has drifted off into conservative la-la land where bullshit is frequently spewed.

Whatever side you fall on in the illegal-immigration debate (and there are more than three sides), you “ought to” decide if a statement from a sitting president like this:

“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.”

“ought to” be tolerated. President Bush is commenting on what is essentially a free speech issue. He is “The Decider” and has decided that the “The Star-Spangled Banner” “ought to” be sung in English. That’s right: To hell with citizens who are French and Jewish and German and Russian and Asian. You “ought to” learn English (at least he didn’t say “American”) and not sing our beloved “Star-Spangled Banner” in you native tongue.

Isn’t it humbling to hear Bush rattle on like a bumblefuck?

Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin considers the rendition “illegal alien anthem nonsense” after unsarcastically opining “Who’s assimilating whom?” a day earlier in regards to the Spanish version of the White House website.

Ah yes, conservatives believe that they alone set the terms and the verbiage of this debate. Browsing through the conservative blogosphere, terms like “unpatriotic,” “divisive,” “disrespectful,” and “despicable” are sufficiently supplied. (This is the same language used to describe a Democrat every time he or she breathes.)

Perhaps I’m missing the big picture. Let me allow completely irrelevant George Key, great-grandson of Francis Scott Key, to explain:

“The national anthem is for Americans, and that’s what it should be - in American English.”

Or, maybe “mike” can put together a better argument:

To all Illegal Immigrants,

Either learn the English language like immigrants from other countries did, or GET OUT! This is the United States and our primary language is ENGLISH! Sure you can speak Spanish with your family and friends, but dont change our National Anthem and try and make the new primary language spanish! It’ll just make more Americans look down on you!

Hmmm… “Tracy” maybe?

The United States National Anthem should be subg in ENGLISH, the language it was written in

Maybe “Proud American Servicewoman” can clear this up some:

Just thought I would impart some information to some of you. This spanish language version is not the brainchild of illegal immigrants. This new version was the idea of a british man and among the spanish singers contributing their voices are Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon. Let me repeat that: PUERTO RICAN singers. For those of you who are unaware, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, all of its citizens are just as much U.S. Citizens as all of us born within the U.S. and Puerto Rico has two official languages- English and Spanish. So before everyone goes off the deep end about how disrespectful this is and write hateful things about immigrants, stop and evaluate who is really responsible. Can you really be upset with a bunch of boricuas singing the anthem in spanish when spanish is just as much the official language in Puerto Rico as English? No, it just stupid. Can you blame the government for trying to turn this into a hot political topic- they need everything they can to prevent the ADHD American Public from remembering the real issues- I don’t care really care one way or another what is done regarding immigration as long at it is done and implemented in a timely manner. I think our country has much bigger problems it should be handling, like the care of our veterans, my husband among the discarded medically discharged marines who has no medical coverage until the VA can “determine his eligibilty for benefits” which can take over a year in our lovely state of California. So quit your b!tching about these trivia social issues and start writing your congressmen if you are really that concerned. Besides, have we all forgotten our protected right to freedom to speak? Just like with flag burning though hearing the anthem in spanish doesn’t seem right to me, I will defend to the death the RIGHT to do it, as should all those affliated with military.

OH that’s RIGHT! America has legitimate problems that can’t be blamed on minorities! Like health care and the deficit and obesity and domestic surveillance and a war.

The brainchildren and star power behind this endeavor are Mexican pop diva Gloria Trevi, Puerto Rican reggaeton star Don Omar, Puerto Rican composer and singer Ivy Queen, the Mexican band Reik, the R&B group Voz a Voz, and Latin musicians Franco De Vita and Kalimba.

Listen to “Nuestro Himno” here. Don’t worry, it’s very well done and, afterwards, you may still be an American (unlike those homosexuals, Mexicans, and Arabs).