Michael
You should sing in your next production. It would be fun to hear how you sing.

I respectfully disagree.

First off, children of immigrants of whatever nationality born in the US are all fluent in English, so there's no threat to English here. Meanwhile, language aquisition is a specific talent which people have in varying degrees. Why shouldn't national anthems be presented in many languages so people around the world can understand the sentiments expressed in them?

We should consider changing this objectionable anthem any way. It's tough to sing. Besides, it glorifies war in a manner not appropriate to the modern world. Never mind immigrants; how many born Americans realize that Francis Scott Key's text has four strophes? It includes a line referencing the British that says "Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution." Lovely. The text also references "slaves" as if there were nothing wrong with the concept and fact of slavery. The text furthermore makes reference to a national trust in god, which encourages those, like Bush, who would blur the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. So really, what is there to defend in this hymn, no matter what language it's sung in?

I also think there's nothing wrong with feeling an attachment to more than one country or culture. You escaped Soviet Russia which was notoriously anti-semitic and anti-gay, and because of that, you don't feel a strong attachment to being Russian. I know Israeli immigrants in NYC who are thankful for all the opportunities America gives them but they do not cancel an allegiance to Israel just because they are here. I'm happy to have them here, just as I'm happy to have Mexicans proud of their country and culture.

Linguistic questions are, in any event, tangential to the moral imperative to give the majority of undocumented immigrants now in the U.S. citizenship. Starting in 1994 when Republicans took control of the Congress, the policy became that of not allowing in as many workers as the economy demanded because the Republicans understood the workers would come anyway and, as undocumented people, would not have to be paid normal wages nor given normal benefits. Now that those same Republicans' constituents are xenophobically up in arms about the undocumented workers they knowingly let in to be exploited, they cave in to their own worst instincts and seek to victimize again the people they victimized in the first place. That we have an immigration crisis is not the fault of immigrants; it's the fault of the government for not long ago setting a responsible immigration policy that provides the economy with the numbers of workers required.

Finally, why would a gay person give a flying fuck about the national anthem of a country that doesn't give him full legal equality?

I agree...
saw you in Cincinnati at Universal Grill...you are hot!

I agree with Donald from Toronto. I am a Mexican living in the U.S. I am proud to be from Mexico. I am proud to be an American. I am lucky to be part of both cultures and love them. To be an American you don't have to sing the Anthem in English. you just need to understand what it means: One nation, for liberty and justice for ALL.

Val

I agree with Michael. One should abide by the customs of the country in which one lives because I believe that it is the only way one can make it through in a new environment. The problem is that every immigrant misses his homeland and his countrymen (at one point or another). On the other hand, if you are constantly surrounded by your fellow countrymen, you really aren't learning anything- you're not vulnerable at all to new experiences. I'm getting a bit off topic, I know. I immigrated from Southeastern Europe, but I would never try to force my foreign customs or beliefs on anyone here or elsewhere. I have to say that I am a bit critical of some people in the Latin community (especially in Miami) who've lived in the nation for more than a decade but still do not know a word of English. That is unbelievable to me! It is completely understandable for senior immigrants not knowing how to speak much of the language, but i have no remorse for the younger generations. My criticism is directed only to the ones who do not wish to open up and learn - not at all to the Latin community in general. I have several Latin friends who share my point of view regarding this.

So Donald up until a few years ago you didn't give a fuck about Canada? America may not be perfect but we constantly change and improve. Does slavery exist here anymore? No. Sixty years ago an interracial couple could not marry, but now they can.
If Americans immigrated en masse to Mexico and insisted singing their national anthem in English that would cause holy hell. My grandparents came from Germany and Ireland but legally.
As for the line in the Anthem about war. Sometimes war is necessary and yes I served proudly in an artillery unit during the first gulf war.

Hey guys.......all I said was it would be fun to hear Michael sing in his next production. I think people are mising up who's comments are who's.

Scott Rose answers to Hephastion:

I can't, actually, make answer to your first salvo because you were not careful enough to note who had made which comments. I know that kind of thing can be difficult for the mentally challenged.

That we no longer have institutionalized slavery does not lessen the offensiveness of the reference to it in Francis Scott Key's text. You might try being sensitive enough to realize that the same race that were held slaves still face a great deal of bigotry and that to let the reference stand is an insult to them and a disgrace to all.

Permit me to doubt that Americans singing the Mexican national anthem in English would cause "holy hell." Of course, that anthem is another one that places unseemly praise on activities of war; "Mexicanos, al grito de la guerra/el acero aprestad y el bridon."

Congratulations, by the way, on your grandparents having come here legally. Second and third generation Americans are at times entering the current debate about how to treat current immigrants by whitewashing the truth about past waves of immigration. Do you really, really believe that every boat that pulled into Ellis Island was peopled exclusively by those who had all their paperwork in order?

As for your "proudly" serving in the first gulf war; nobody should give unthinking support to any military organization, and everybody should be doing whatever they can to end the barbarity that is war. You are just a stupendously great human being, no doubt, for having gone to protect Kuwait, which is run under Sharia law, which calls for homosexuals to be killed, and where at the time of the war women did not even have the vote. And to protect that, you contributed to the oppression of gay people by serving in a military hostile against them. Real bravery at the time would not have been hiding in the closet while in an artillery unit protecting a foreign country whose laws call for homosexuals to be killed but rather protesting American anti-gay policies outside American military recruiting stations.

Im from Mexico and im in the US on a student visa. i think theyre is too much focus on Mexican immigrants here. while its true that a large perctange of the immigrants that enter the country ilegaly come from Mexico a large portion of those come from central and south america thru Mexico. as for the national anthem in spanish, its only been backed and made by muscians from the Carribian. lately it feels a lot of people in this country refer to everyone who speaks spanish from Latin America as Mexican. In response to the what ifs of US immigrants in Mexico, its already happend, and american culture is at its highest point ever in Mexico. So much so that the goverment is so afraid of its citizens forgetting theyre culture theyve enforced tough laws on entering the country for a long period of time. If you walk thru the streets of any of the large mexican cities like mexico, or guadalajara all the kids know english. I think its hypocritical to say that illegal immigrants are imposing a foreign culture on america when america is obviosly doing the same thing in the rest of the world.

Hi,,,, i´m to Lima - Perú and very happy you visit my country,, thanks from you comments,,, i love you art, you working, is very fantastic, very beautiful,,, sorry my english, i dont speak,,,, bye

I do apologize Donald. I read the wrong name. A thousand pardons I beg, Hep