Polimom’s really astounded by the suggestion that the National Anthem can only be sung in English. To support that, one would have to totally overlook our entire history.
Yet the argument is raging nonetheless, which leads me to conclude that folks think they just sprang up from dragon teeth, planted in American soil by some kind of Johnny Appleseed version of mythology’s Jason.
Or perhaps they think that their families learned English by some mysterious osmosis, or from the miraculous American water….?
As it happens, Polimom’s family didn’t manage things quite that way. Some of my immigrant (great great) grandparents didn’t speak English, and even their children spoke it with a very heavy accent.
My grandfather, who was either third of fourth generation American (depending upon which line you trace), was the first generation to speak English as his native language, and he remained fluent in Swedish and German. That’s normal, folks; unless all branches of your family came from England, they struggled with English also.
Yes, I realize there’s a remixed Spanish version of the National Anthem due out in June that adds pro-illegal-immigration language, but do you really see that as more damaging or insulting than Roseanne Barr’s rendition?