Bush draws the line

In the latest attempt to bridge the divided sides of the immigration debate, President Bush has expressed his strong disapproval of the Spanish language version of the national anthem entitled “Nuestro Himno”: I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ...

In the latest attempt to bridge the divided sides of the immigration debate, President Bush has expressed his strong disapproval of the Spanish language version of the national anthem entitled “Nuestro Himno”:

In the latest attempt to bridge the divided sides of the immigration debate, President Bush has expressed his strong disapproval of the Spanish language version of the national anthem entitled “Nuestro Himno”:

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.

With the song being marketed to radio stations as a show of solidarity for pro-immigrant protesters and with its promise of wide airplay in the marches to be held on Monday, this statement expresses more than simply an opinion on historical tradition or aesthetic purity.  But for a song with uncertain roots in the British pubs, the ship has long since sailed. 

A cursory glance at the hundreds of recorded versions of the Star Spangled Banner clearly reveals that patriotism rarely requires good taste or strict adherence to tradition. The entire national mythology of the melting pot (or mixed salad) is being able to draw on unique cultural influences to uphold American values. I’m not sure if any of these can match the raw power of Jimmy Hendrix at Woodstock, but the hands-down winner for feel-good sentimentality is found on the album Patriotic Slack Key & Steel, a true masterpiece.

Until I have a chance to hear the “Nuestro Himno” the jury’s still out, but if the nation has managed to live through Dave Coulier, then I think its soul is probably safe.

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