The New Spanish Version of "The Star-Spangled Banner"
30 Apr 2006
A new Spanish version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was released Friday by the record label Urban Box Office (UBO). This new Spanish edition of the national anthem, entitled “Nuestro Himno,” or “Our Anthem,” is set to Latino rhythms and sung by Spanish speaking entertainers like hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singer Carlos Ponce. Although the just released version includes some revision of our national anthem’s original lyrics, a remix scheduled for release in June will contain several new lines that condemn the United States and its immigration laws.
UBO intentionally timed the release of “Nuestro Himno” to coincide with Monday’s planned nationwide protests by illegal immigrants and their supporters. These protests are intended to show America how illegal immigrants can bring our whole country to a screeching halt by laying out of school and laying off from work. Interestingly, the planners of these protests have dubbed Monday “May 1st Day,” an idea they obviously borrowed from the Communist holiday “May Day.”
As a descendant of Irish immigrants, I must admit that I’m horribly offended by this new Spanish version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” If I had only known that the national anthem was open to revision then I would have demanded some changes long ago. First, I would have insisted that the lyrics be revised to include references to shamrocks and leprechauns. Second, I would have insisted that the tune be changed to “Danny Boy.” Third, I would have forbidden the playing of the national anthem on any other instrument except the bagpipes. And finally, I would have demanded that our flag’s stars be changed to Irish potatoes and that the color of its stripes be changed to emerald green and Bonny Blue.
Any refusal on our country’s part to dance an Irish jig to my new version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be interpreted by me as proof positive of our nation’s prejudice against the Irish. In the face of such prejudice against us, I propose that we Irish, especially Boston’s illegal Irish immigrants, layout of school and layoff from work until we bring this whole country to its knees. Perhaps, we can plan our protests to begin on Saint Patrick’s Day; after all, there’s no better day for us Irish lads and lasses to conspicuously strip America of its Irish green.
In all seriousness, if we Americans don’t soon free ourselves from all of this multicultural nonsense we will not only lose our own culture, but our national identity as well. We will become a country defying definition and headed for the ash heap of world history. It’s time we decided whether we will survive as a nation or commit national suicide. To survive, we must all start singing the same song; otherwise, we’ll end up dancing ourselves to death to a myriad of different whistled tunes.
Don Walton
|
