The national anthem in Spanish

I’ve supported the adoption of English as the national language of the United States for more than 40 years. It’s not because I hate other languages (I love other languages; I collect them the way other people do stamps). It’s not because I hate immigrants. My next door neighbors are immigrants from Poland, the Philippines, and Mexico. I love my neighbors.

It’s because I love my country and I want my countrymen to all be equals. The reality is that in every country in which more than a single language is recognized and accepted the speakers of one language dominate the speakers of the other socially and economically. I may not like it but that’s the way things are.

My Schuler nationality is Swiss. Switzerland recognizes four languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. Practically everybody is bilingual or trilingual or more. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the speakers of German dominate the native speakers of the other languages. In fact the speakers of Hoch Deutch dominate the speakers of Schwyzertütsch. But that’s another story.

As Theodore Roosevelt put it

“We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans.”

But until such time as English is adopted as the official national language you have nothing whatever to complain about. So quitcherbellyachin.

James Joyner, however, has a reasonable observation on Mr. Bush’s pronouncement this morning:

While Bush, king of the malapropism, might not be the best messenger for that particular idea, he’s certainly right. We should welcome immigrants and their cultural contributions; we should nonetheless continue to speak a single language.

UPDATE:  Mark in Mexico has an absolutely inspired rant on the Mexican national anthem.

5 comments… add one
  • I’ve got the reputation around my blog of being “soft” on the immigration issue. True enough. But I’m with you — hard core on one language.

    Still, the Star Spangled Banner was written to commemorate a war against the English, and now our President is saying that it should be sung only in English. I seem to be the only person who is even slightly amused by that.

  • And he’s saying it in broken English 😉

  • In the United States of America, ENGLISH is the language spoken.

    If you wish to live here and participate in the benefits of freedom, you will need to accept the responsibilities that go with that privilege so speak ENGLISH or go home.

    It is very rude to speak ENGLISH in an elevator with Americans and then switch to Spanish or any other language to keep your conversation private….you can just shut-up and/or go back home.

  • cec Link

    The US State Dept has had 4 versions of our National Anthem in Spanish on its Web site for ages: http://usinfo.state.gov/esp/home/topics/us_society_values/national_symbols/anthem_spanish.html

  • And there have been versions in all sorts of other languages since the Anthem was adopted.

    I think that the concern about the primacy of English is not unjustified but I think that the anger is unjustified. If they were really concerned they’d do something rather than just vent and rail against Spanish-speakers.

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