Star Spangled Beaner

Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch and starts flinging tamales at me, I picked the title of this post for a reason. First, "Jose can you see" was already taken and second to prove a point. Does the title offend you? Good! Now maybe people can understand the upsetment that is being caused by news that came out today.

A company has hired a number of Mexican and Latin American music artists to record a version of the "Star Spangled Banner" in Spanish. They want this version to be played in addition to the original version at events. I know I just typed those words, but I can't believe them myself. "Wait a minute Brian, you must be yanking our chorizo" you're undoubtedly thinking. No amigo, I'm not making this up. This is where the point I mentioned before comes in. I am so offended by this that I may not even have a cervesa on Cinco De Mayo.

Organizers are saying that the Spanish version will be "a way for immigrants to show their devotion to a new country." My ass! Here's a good way to show your devotion, learn the National Anthem the way it was written. If that means learning English, guess what, you're in the USA and that's the national language. I'm sure that if I moved to Mexico to open my Chicklet factory, they wouldn't change their songs for me. I would have to learn Spanish if I ever wanted to make a name for myself in the border sweets trade. The people putting this together say that the proceeds from the sale of this will go to fund the protest marches that are going on. Oh that's perfect. Everyone should be allowed to make a mockery of this country then use the profits to further the cause of people who break the law.

I'm all for free speech, and I think that if people want to protest, that's cool. What I don't like is that this country seems to losing all respect for itself. We're like the smart girl in high school who dumbs herself down so that the singlet wearing ape on the wrestling team will like her. We're allowing everything that made us special to be broken down by people who use racism as an answer to anyone who disagrees with them. It's not racist to expect people to obey the law, it's not racist to be proud of your country and expect people who come here to be proud of it too, and it's not racist to demand that your flag and national anthem be left alone. This country used to be a melting pot. That meant that all cultures came here and mixed together into the American culture. It didn't mean that you got to come over here and make your culture equal to this country's. Man, I'm worked into a lather. I'm sweating like an illegal running from the green INS van.

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse. What seems sad is that when you voice this opinion, you get labeled a racist. I'm sure there are a lot of folks who are using this argument as a veil for their racism. Saying you're not a racist makes everyone think you are, so I'll leave it at this, you can think what you want about me, I don't care. While you're judging me though, ask yourself this, do you think it's OK for high school kids in California to fly a Mexican flag over an American flag that's turned upside down? It's happening and we're letting it happen. Sing along won't you. In English this time ..."Oh say can you see....." Later....Brian