The Spanish Version of The Star Spangled Banner

I'm sure you've heard by now that there's a Spanish "translation" of The Star Spangled Banner making the rounds these days. However, what's being propounded as a "translation" is anything but. Take a look. Here is the Spanish version that, as I understand it, is currently being played (to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner), followed by the English translation. (This is taken from from NPR's website.)

Lyrics to 'Nuestro Himno' ('Our Anthem')

Amanece, lo veis?, a la luz de la aurora?

lo que tanto aclamamos la noche caer?

sus estrellas sus franjas

flotaban ayer

en el fiero combate

en señal de victoria,

fulgor de lucha, al paso de la libertada.

Por la noche decßan:

"Se va defendiendo!"

Oh decid! Despliega aún

Voz a su hermosura estrellada,

sobre tierra de libres,

la bandera sagrada?

Sus estrellas, sus franjas,

la libertad, somos iguales.

Somos hermanos, en nuestro himno.

En el fiero combate en señal de victoria,

Fulgor de lucha, al paso de la libertada.

Mi gente sigue luchando.

Ya es tiempo de romper las cadenas.

Por la noche decßan: "!Se va defendiendo!"

Oh decid! Despliega aún su hermosura estrellada

sobre tierra de libres,

la bandera sagrada?

English translation of "Our Anthem":

By the light of the dawn, do you see arising,

what we proudly hailed at twilight's last fall?

Its stars, its stripes

yesterday streamed

above fierce combat

a gleaming emblem of victory

and the struggle toward liberty.

Throughout the night, they proclaimed:

"We will defend it!"

Tell me! Does its starry beauty still wave

above the land of the free,

the sacred flag?

Its stars, its stripes,

liberty, we are the same.

We are brothers in our anthem.

In fierce combat, a gleaming emblem of victory

and the struggle toward liberty.

My people fight on.

The time has come to break the chains.

Throughout the night they proclaimed, "We will defend it!"

Tell me! Does its starry beauty still wave

above the land of the free,

the sacred flag?

***

Here's where I come down on this. It's one thing to have a Spanish translation of the anthem so that someone who doesn't speak English can attempt to learn what the words of the anthem mean and understand the history behind it. It's quite another to propose another version of the anthem, in Spanish, as an accommodation to anyone, for any reason.

From what I've heard, one of the reasons for this translation is to remove the language pertaining to "rockets red glare" and "bombs bursting in air" because the imagery is too violent. Well, whoever came up with this version of the Anthem obviously has no idea what was going on when Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics. The references to bombs and rockets are there because that's what was happening at the time. The anthem is about the formative years of this country, and what was going on as this country's soul was forged on the fields of battle.

Let's think for a minute: when was the last time a country -- any country -- was created without a few bombs bursting in air? It doesn't happen. And Francis Scott Key's lyrics were chosen over songs like God Bless America, and America the Beautiful because they capture the spirit of where this country came from. If you really listen to those words, and understand what inspired them, you cannot help but be moved by them.

It accomplishes nothing to promulgate this Spanish translation of The Star Spangled Banner, except maybe the scoring of a few politically-correct brownie points. Anyone who knows anything about doing translations knows that it can be ridiculously difficult to get an accurate translation of something like a poem, or a song, where the rhythm of the language, and the meaning of the words, is so important to the sentiment of the song. This "translation" is obviously intended to further some agenda that has nothing to do with what the National Anthem actually stands for.

By the way, I've heard it argued that this "translation" of the National Anthem is a "free speech" issue and is protected under the First Amendment. Let's clear that up right now. You are free to disagree with the choice of the anthem, and to voice that disagreement. You are free to express distate for the imagery suggested by the lyrics in the anthem. You are free to form a grass roots movement calling for the naming of a new national anthem. But the right to free speech does not protect your right (or anyone's right) to unilaterally re-write the national anthem, deem it to be the same as the actual National Anthem, and then adopt it as an acceptable alternative to that actual National Anthem. There's a huge difference between the two.

Let's nip this craziness in the bud.