LETTER OF THE DAY
The nativists are getting restless:
English only speakers want national anthem in English only
For years it has been a thorn in my side: When using a telephone, cash machine and other services, I am asked if I want Spanish or English.
Now our U.S. anthem will be sung in Spanish. I am beginning to feel like a stranger in my own country. Isn’t English our national language?
Why don’t those who come to this country learn our ways? Why do we English-only-speaking citizens have to even chose the language we want to transact our business in?
Next time I am at an event where our national anthem is sung I would find it hard to tolerate the person next to me singing in another language.
Jack Rine, Ocean View
Yeah, the government is borrowing hundreds of billions to fight an unnecessary war, climate change is real and getting worse, hurricane season is almost upon us, and Jack Rine’s priority is someone singing the national anthem in Spanish.
God help us!
12 Responses to “LETTER OF THE DAY”
 Comment by Meg April 26th, 2006 at 8:48 am |
but English ISN’T our national language, and let’s face it, it never will be! If anyone ever gets around to legally assigning us a national language you know there won’t be just ONE, we’ll have two like Canada. |
 Comment by Homeschool Grandmother April 26th, 2006 at 11:24 am |
I read somewhere that English was chosen over German, around the time the Constitution was written. It was passed by only one vote, otherwise we’d all be speaking German. I don’t know the references to this, or where you can find out, but I am sure it can be researched. |
 Comment by Audrey April 26th, 2006 at 11:25 am |
Interesting. I grew up in SFL. Spanish is everywhere. You can’t help but learn it (unless, of course you only move in the white overprivileged circle). The anthem in Spanish? I’d love to hear how it sounds. Other interesting note: while English and French are the official “national” languages of Canada (meaning all federal services must be in both languages), only ONE province has actually declared them official languages of the province. Can you guess which one it is? Hint: It isn’t Quebec. |
 Comment by speedwell April 26th, 2006 at 12:23 pm |
I like the original words. I’d make that a link but I’m not perfectly sure how and there’s no preview on this thing 🙂 |
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Comment by speedwell April 26th, 2006 at 12:24 pm |
Oh, it did it. Thanks |
 Comment by Andrea April 26th, 2006 at 12:32 pm |
Ooo! Audrey, I know! 😀 |
 Comment by Myrtle April 26th, 2006 at 4:55 pm |
This guy sounds like a South Park parody. |
 Comment by Ulrike April 26th, 2006 at 5:12 pm |
I don’t know if it’s still the case, but up to 5 years ago, German–not Spanish–was the 2nd most common language in Iowa. |
 Comment by COD April 27th, 2006 at 8:04 am |
Except that in South Park, the kids would learn something by the end of the show. |
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Comment by speedwell April 27th, 2006 at 2:22 pm |
OK, I thought about it. So long as it’s OUR national anthem they’re singing, they can sing it in Basque for all I care. |
 Comment by JOYCE April 28th, 2006 at 1:23 pm |
IF FOREIGNERS DON’T LIKE “OUR” ANTHEM — THEY CAN GO BACK TO THERE ORIGINAL PLACE OF BIRTH AND SIGN THERE ANTHEM……… ENGLISH IS SPOKEN HERE AND WE AMERICANS LOVE IT AND OUR ANTHEM.. I AM TIRED OF FEELING LIKE A FOREIGNER IN MY OWN COUNTRY. MY GRANDFATHER,FATHER AND HUSBAND FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND LOOK AT WHATS HAPPENING TODAY…. |
 Comment by laryn April 29th, 2006 at 3:09 am |
Btw, it is NOT Spanish, it is Mexican. Sincerely wish that it would be remembered that the Spanish language is in Spain NOT Mexico. Singing the US National Anthem in Mexican is completely WRONG, no other “minority group” has ever attempted to alter the language of US Anthem. Why should all things English become Mexican? Why shouldn’t the Mexicans learn English? The forefather (and mothers) all felt the necessity to speak English. That is what America was built on. |