Jose Can You See

In the ongoing battle over immigration, one British music producer decided that what the U.S. really needs is a Spanish language version of the Star Spangled Banner:

British music producer Adam Kidron says that when he came up with the idea of a Spanish-language version of the U.S. national anthem, he saw it as an ode to the millions of immigrants seeking a better life.

But in the week since Kidron announced the song - which features artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon - it has been the target of a fierce backlash.

Some Internet bloggers and others are infuriated by the thought of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung in a language other than English.

"Would the French accept people singing the La Marseillaise in English as a sign of French patriotism? Of course not," said Mark Krikorian, head of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports tighter immigration controls.

The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," comes out Friday and uses lyrics based closely on the English-language original, said Kidron, who heads the record label Urban Box Office.

Pro-immigration protests are planned around the country for Monday, and the record label is urging Hispanic radio stations nationwide to play the cut at 7 p.m. EDT Friday in a sign of solidarity.

Although the initial version will be a rough translation of the original lyrics, that won't be true of the remix coming out in June:

A remix to be released in June will contain several lines in English that condemn U.S. immigration laws. Among them: "These kids have no parents, cause all of these mean laws ... let's not start a war with all these hard workers, they can't help where they were born."

Bryanna Bevens of Hanford, Calif., who writes for the immigration-focused Web magazine Vdare.com, said the remix particularly upset her.

"It's very whiny. If you want to say all those things, by all means, put them on your poster board, but don't put them on the national anthem," she said.

These people are their own worst enemies. You don't create good will with the host country by mocking them as they have with their Spanish anthems or Mexican flags. This may help unite the Mexicans, but it will also unite those who would push the government for tighter border control and law enforcement.

President Bush was asked about the Spanish Anthem today:

"I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

He made his remarks on the matters during a wide-ranging briefing with reporters.

"I think people who want to be citizens of this country ought to learn English," Bush said.

UPDATE: Apparently Howard the Donkey decided to pander to the angry illegals by endorsing the idea of singing the national anthem in two different languages "like they do in Canada". Hey Howard, #1 Canada is officially a bilingual country, and #2 when you go to a game involving a U.S. and Canadian teams, they sing TWO DIFFERENT SONGS, not the same song in two languages.

Howard needs to get out more.