Jose Can You See?

OK, ok...it's an old joke, but I couldn't resist.

Canada has both English and French versions of "O Canada," so why not "Nuestro Himno"? It shows that our Latino citizens identify themselves as Americanos, and that can't be bad. And what's this about our "national soul"? It was sold long ago, baby, to Standard Oil, US Steel, the Department of War, and their successors. Besides, whatever happened to "the melting pot"?

On the lingustic front, English has to be the most promiscuous and bastardized language on the planet to begin with, springing from Anglo Saxon, Celtic, Nordic, and Norman French roots, then adopting every loan word that came along. Surely we have enough room in our burgeoning linguistic family tree for "O Say Can You See" en Espanol.

Bush Says Anthem Should Be in English

WASHINGTON -- The national anthem should be sung in English--not Spanish--President Bush declared Friday, amid growing restlessness over the millions of immigrants here illegally.

"One of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue, that we not lose our national soul," the president exclaimed. "One of the great things about America is that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us."

A Spanish language version of the national anthem was released Friday by a British music producer, Adam Kidron, who said he wanted to honor America's immigrants.

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