If "ignornace is bliss," then my father, and the 30+ % of Bush supporters must be some of the happiest MoFo's on the planet!
I got this hideous email from my Dad, who I am embarrassed to admit was proud he forwarded it to everyone in his address book. I just don't know how I can be related to someone so clearly misguided in his patriotism, and willing to defend his ignorance of America with a flag and the frothy fervor of Santorum? It makes me so very sad. Especially when I know that in his heart, he really does know better and that he is a tremendously kind and forgiving person. If only his gentle soul were balanced by a knowledge that there is more to America than "Red, White & Blue."
"I am sorry but after hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough. No where did they sing it in Italian, Japanese, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German, Portuguese, Greek, French, or any other language because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. The news broadcasts even gave the translation -- not even close. Sorry if this offends anyone but this is MY COUNTRY -
IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY SPEAK UP ---- please pass this along~
I am not against immigration -- just come through like everyone else. Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past -- and GOD BLESS AMERICA!
PART OF THE PROBLEM
Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-----YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM !!!!
Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????
Think about it!
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.
It is Time for America to Speak up If you agree -- pass
this along; if you don't agree --
delete it."
Did FOX Noise make this email up?
Did Limbaugh himself author this heinous and completely inaccurate piece of hate disguised as patriotism?
Francis Scott Key! How many misguided, historically blind Americans fell for this rhetorical bait and switch? How f*cking clueless are you?! You should be ashamed of yourself! I for one am embarrassed for you and ashamed to call you a fellow American! I am sure that Francis Scott Key is ashamed of you too. You know why? You missed the point of his poem. But more to the point, this poem was penned in 1814. No it wasn't translated on mass for the immigrant population. No they didn't sing it. In 1814, they didn't even know it existed; nor did the majority of Americans -- even the English speakers! It wasn't until 1889that the Navy first used it, and the White House didn't come to recognize the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" until 1915! And to further blow this hate mail apart, this now sacred poem wasn't elevated to the "Star Spangled Banner," our national anthem, by an act of Congress in 1931! Yes, that's right my "left behind" patriots...1931!
Obviously, this means that not only did all those immigrants that built the melting pot of America, the ones so declaratively identified, not sing the Anthem in their native language; they couldn't have if they wanted to! It wasn't written then. It wasn't our national anthem yet! You bigoted morons, the precious anthem wasn't even part of our national heritage until after World War I!
Now, for the whole Spanish version crap!
adapted it first and officially, as would be The author acts like this is a recent thing! NOT! The anthem was first embraced and sung publicly in Spanish in 1968! And...At, of all things...A BASEBALL GAME! The Puerto Rican's their right and responsibility as a patriotic American territory!
You see, the language matters little, except to the small minded amongst you.
It's the words, the pride, the belief in this nation that matters when that song is sung. It's a pledge of allegiance, a prayer of thanks for our nation, a love song to freedom and all that makes us a proud nation of immigrants. To hear it used so hatefully as a tool to divide and justify bigotry against someone unlike yourself is the greatest insult you can cast to the poem itself.
Like it or not white, English speaking America, we are a rich melting pot of different faiths, ethnicity's, political beliefs, colors, creeds, and people. What unites us is our love of freedom. What unites us is the belief of equality for all. What gives us pride is our pursuit of happiness!
This is a great nation, and it is not the immigrants that bring us low.
Immigrants built this nation! None of us are native to this land, unless you are an indigenous American Indian; otherwise, you too are an immigrant or the descendant of one. So, as I was saying, it's not the immigrant that is the issue, it's the ignorant American citizen, blinded by hate and vigorously motivated by their own ignorance that is the issue. It is the vocal and stubborn minority that claims to bleed "red, white & blue;" but do so only in a very narrow view that has little to do with national pride, historical understanding, or American ideals. Instead, they speak with contempt of all that are different from themselves, as if they hold some higher moral ground simply because they were here first!
Again, this nation was not first settled by English speakers. Our oldest city is Saint Augustine in Florida. It was discovered and settled by SPAIN! Much of the South was settled by the FRENCH. Texas & California are originally Mexican / Spanish provinces! Language, diversity, and skin colors is what makes us strong. Words are but mere words, no matter the language spoken. It's not the delivery that matters. It's the beliefs, the allegiance, the willingness and desire of those immigrants to sing our National Anthem! They feel love for this nation, just as strongly and perhaps, more strongly than the ignorant few who try to cast them the enemy of the state.
Think of the sacrifice, think of the fear, think of the danger; think of all the things that stand before an illegal desperate to enter "the land of the free, and the home of the brave." They are willing to die to become free, and brave enough to stand next to you and sing our Anthem; an act of allegiance, not war.
Too bad the hysterically and historically retarded American patriot bigots are so blinded by the colors of our flag to see the commonality in our national plights, fights, and freedoms as immigrants, one and all!
Words, are just words, but your hate is a blight on America and all that she's to stand for. It is you that should not be allowed to sing the Anthem. It is you that insult Francis Scott Key.
It is you that needs to learn what it means to be an American.
Your birthright as a citizen comes with obligations, and in my book, the first is to understand, study, and revel in the truth of our history; not the bliss of your ignorance.