Free4Life11 said:
Bingo. We have a winner.
Frankly, I'm proud of this nation's history as a meltingpot of cultures and influences. It makes us stronger as a people, more in tune with the rest of the world, and more appreciative of the freedoms that too many of us take for granted.
On the previous page of this thread some hysterical poster suggested that any station that plays the Spanish version of the anthem should be "shut down", and then proceeded to proclaim that "this is not a freedom of speech issue, it's just wrong." In other words, freedom of speech for this person only applies if he/she happens to agree with the message.
Similarly, it's nonsensical to suggest that we should "ban" this version of the anthem because Mexico, France, etc. would certainly not allow the same thing in that country. Well, the reason I'm proud to be an American includes the fact that I have freedoms that a Mexican, Frenchman, or anyone else in the world does NOT have. Why should I expect or want my country to limit its freedoms to what Mexico allows? That's the tail wagging the dog.
Some people seem to think that the quality of being an "American" requires that we all strive for a homogenization to the apple-pie eating baseball-loving white-picket-fence ideal of some Normal Rockewell painting. In my opinion, the strength of America lies in the diversity of its people united under a system of government that values freedom above all else. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the segment of citizens who are most eager to suggest that the government should curtail those freedoms are those who have never had to contemplate life without them.
Be careful what you wish for. The fact that an immigrant-turned-citizen is singing the national anthem in Spanish doesn't mean he/she doesn't love the country. On the other hand, those who would suggest that the government should have the right to muzzle that person has no concept of the reason that being an American is so special.
I'm off the soapbox now; interesting debate.
