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logo    So now it's the National Anthem


Americans of Latin American decent have now produced a version of the National Anthem with lyrics in Spanish, and the country is in an uproar. I'm somewhat baffled by this.

Last year, the Samoa News published the following release: PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Jan. 25) - The national anthem of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been translated into the Samoan language and American Samoa Senator Fai'ivae A. Galea'i has called for its official adoption into the law. Not even a whisper was uttered in response by Americans of any political persuasion. But an anthem in Spanish? What an uproar! Is this racism? Well, of course not!

The devotion that Americans of some political persuasions have to the anthem is curious anyhow. I suspect that most don't know the words, especially beyond the first verse, and many can't sing it under any conditions. The vocal range required is too great. Then again, the music is not even original; it was stolen. (Hum! Perhaps that's the authentic American way to get things.) The original words and music, which can be found at http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.100010460/pageturner.html?, were written in 1776 for well-heeled London fun-lovers who founded the Anacreon Society which met once every two weeks to get drunk and sing songs. When it was decided that the group should have a signature tune, a member named John Smith whistled one up, entitled "To Anacreon in Heaven."

So the National Anthem we so honor is sung to a tune stolen from a bunch of drunken British. Just think, all those Conservative Americans who despise alcohol so much sing an old British drinking song as their National Anthem. Perhaps we should all shout, Prost!, after every rendering

To put an end to this nonsense, I propose that people in taverns and perhaps college fraternity houses sing the song in its original version. I say to those who want a new national anthem, that that would be a sure way to get one.

2006, John Kozy