VivirLatino

Esto sí que podrá ser un paso hacia delante...

I understand the sentiment and am really interested in hearing the final cut, pero I have issues with this movement within the larger movement, that is the movement to make the Latino as immigrant more palatable to the general mainstream (read white) United States resident/citizen. This movement to show not only that Latinos belong here but the movement to show that we can become you (the mainstream white U.S. citizen) just feeds into the stereotype of what a "good" U.S. resident should be and anyone who doesn't fall into line of carrying the U.S. flag at rallies or singing the Star Bangled Banner becomes labeled deviant and outsider. As if singing the star bangled banner or carrying the U.S. flag will suddenly erase the underlying racism that is part of the debate.

I see it 1) as a marketing ploy (timeliness sells records, let's be honest) and, if the implied sentiment is to be believed, 2) an attempt to "take back" symbols of this country that have been hijacked by conservatives and put them in the hands of immigrants who truly know what it means to struggle for the same thing other immigrants have struggled for in the past.

I personally don't believe in pledging allegiance to any country or saluting a flag, and don't think you have to be a flag waver to live in this country. But if the sentiment is about inclusiveness and the spirit of the word "America" having many meanings, many faces and many colors, then I'm all for it.

I am not what you would call a conservative but I do very much protest this conversion of the National Anthem into a Spanish version. None of the other ethnic groups who migrated to the United States - either with legal documentation or without - found it necessary to make a version in their native language. Is this implying that of all the ethnic groups who have come to the United States - Vietnamese, Russians, French, Germans, Portuguese, etc., etc., etc. - only Spanish-speaking people are too slow or mentally impaired to be able to sing it in the language in which it was written?

I also wonder how the British producer of this project would feel about having "God Save the Queen" sung in, say, Swahili - or any other language of citizens of the Commonwealth.

Ay people need to get over their treatment of the English language as if it was something holy and untouchable. The English language, which came from ::gasp:: England since the U.S. was a colony, has so many words from other languages. It's a language not a God.

yep i do agreed with that, i hate how the people came over here and they even want to learn english(somthing that we need to see is those people can't speak a very good spanish either because they are uneducated, most of them don't have the money for get an education) but they still have to make that effort and learn english.

yep i do agreed with that, i hate how the people came over here and they don't want to learn to speak english(somthing that we need to see is those people can't speak a very good spanish either because they are uneducated, most of them don't have the money for get an education) but they still have to make that effort and learn the language.

to reply to http://vivirlatino.com/2006/04/24/nuestro-himno-musical-patriotism-and-solidarity.php#comentario_1308, there is already an official version written in the Samoan language. So while the Samoans and the Spanish decided to make their own language versions us, I still believe that all American residents should learn the English lyrics.

>>carrying the U.S. flag at rallies or singing the Star Bangled Banner becomes labeled deviant and outsider. As if singing the star bangled banner or carrying the U.S. flag will suddenly erase the underlying racism that is part of the debate.

Actually, it's to prove that we are Americans too DESPITE our being non-white. Why shouldn't we wave the flag with pride and place our hand over our hearts when hearing our national anthem? Mexicans (i.e. citizens of Mexico, as opposed to Chicanos, who are Americans) are fervently patriotic. So why is American patriotism equated with racism or jingoism?

Well you only took half my quote. I said anyone who doesn't carry the flag or sing the Star Bangled Banner gets labeled deviant or outsider. I'll admit to having a bit of a bias against U.S. flag waving because of colonial/imperial issues. That said, I have no problem with indidividuals who really believe in the U.S. Flag's representation of freedom, liberty carrying it at rallies or singing the Star Spangled Banner in any language. My concern is when it is something being actively called , as it has been in much of the Spanish language media, so that Latinos and other immigrants can "prove" how much they want to be here and be "Americans".

anyone know where the lyrics to this song are, i've heard they've changed some of the words to suit their purpose

"We decided to re-record 'The Star-Spangled Banner' to show our solidarity with the undocumented migrants," said UBO President Adam Kidron. "Today we are Americans and 'The-Star Spangled Banner' represents everything to us."

The phrase "undocumented migrants" is the key problem. When you enter into this country ILLEGALLY you are breaking a law. If I broke into your home and raped you would that make me your husband? That's the same kind of logic being used to say that they are Americans. If you were to come to this country legally I'd give you a big hug, say welcome and be fine with it. I'm at least third generation American, my grandparents came here legally.

As far as taking back the southwest US as the vocal people on the news claim to be doing, they stole it from the native American population in the first place, they lost it to the US after we marched to Mexico city and had a peace treaty signed. Be glad otherwise we might have a lot more of Mexico.

I'm an American. Born, raised, and to the death. I'm quite excited to hear this new version of the National Anthem and I have no problem with it being made. The people who do are elitist idiots...if you don't have a valid, intelligent issue, you make something up that will cause a stir. I grew up in an area of the US where migrant labor was a huge sector of our economy (fruit harvests). I worked side by side with a great number of "illegal" immigrants and almost all of them were great people. However, for a lot of Americans the issue has nothing at all to do with racism. For many Americans the issue is economic. Yes, many Americans are rich, but many are not. American citizens pay taxes to the government to pay for services. Illegal aliens are entitled to some of those services for free, but don't pay our taxes. So they are seeing people who come into our country illegally, take advantage of our system for their own needs and pay little or nothing back into the system. If you want to be a citizen, that's outstanding! All are welcome. But don't accuse citizens of racism because they want you to obey the law, that's wrong. If I move to Mexico and get a job, they won't let me stay forever, at some point I'm going to be deported if I don't become a citizen, or at least participate in the system.

Oh, I almost forgot. I'm not a conservative, but you should attempt to be kinder to them. They have granted blanket citizenship to migrant workers at least twice that I can remember in the last 30 years. Just a thought.

To all illegal Mexican immigrants,

As usual, you just have to use the racist crutch when you know you are completely in the wrong. We who were born here (regardless of your heritage) or became an American LEGALLY are Americans. ANYONE who enters this wonderful country ILLEGALLY is not! They are a burden! How can you expect to be welcomed into our country and culture when you have disrespected the laws of this great nation from the first step that you took on this great land of ours? You rally, arrogantly demanding the rights that we have by birthright just because you are here now illegally standing on our land. You even refuse to even learn the language? Why do you expect us to change who and what we are to make you illegal immigrants happy? What makes you better than our ancestors that did come here LEGALLY and BLENDED into OUR society rather that hop a fence and demand we learn yours? It amazes me how stupid and arrogant you are!

Now on top of all of this you are disrespecting our beloved National Anthem by making a Mexican version and claiming it’s to help immigrants to understand it? LEARN ENGLISH! Here you are again trying to change us to accommodate you. All you do is cry about getting our birthrights, how you are Americans just because you are standing on our soil (illegally) and continually put up more disgracing barriers between us such as this song. This is a sacred song in our hearts and you just stabbed us there. You just don’t understand, do you? That’s most likely due to the fact that you refuse to learn English.

Your actions tell us everything about who you really are.It doesn’t look promising.

I read somewhere that the melody to the Star Bangled Banner came from an English drinking song. Seems fitting.

I read once, "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless,tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door" I don't see anything regarding language skill requirements. Why only illegal Mexican immigrants? are you unaware of the thousands of people from other countries who stay after their visa expires everyday? did you forget about the thousands of cubans who, if they can make it across the international waters border into American waters, they can stay. no questions asked,that attempt the voyage every week? These men, women and children face death, hunger and no promise of work for just the opportunity to try. No contracts, no union representation, just the chance to be here is enough for them to risk everything. Sing the anthem in any language you please, this is the greatest nation on earth.

I'm a very conservative Republican and believe that the United States is strengthened by immigrants. The people who struggle to get to the US and work hard to make a better life for their children, are the kind of people who will only make us all more prosperous.

As for having the National Anthem in Spanish, this will help include many more into feelings of patriotism and love for a country that accepts them. Besides, Spanish is the official language of Puerto Rico, and that beautiful island has been part of the United States for over a century. Certainly, it is appropriate for the National Anthem to also exist in the official language of a US Commonwealth.

I heard the song and its "corny," it's not a good song. I can't believe how people in the music business are trying to capitalize in the immigration issue. They are actually undermining the movement.

What is the big deal? Barbara Maitland ...only Spanish-speaking people are too slow or mentally impaired to be able to sing it in the language in which it was written?

Why be hurtful? hey its just a version. From what I have heard it sounds respectful. Consider this our we being manipulated into a furor by the news services Who are trying to create a news story. This version is a 5 minute sound bite lasting 10 mins too long.

Totally lame. Just learn the damn song in English. Illegal immigrants have NO rights here. Sorry, that's the way it is and you better not make any trouble or BE PREPARED.

Awesome! Spanish should become an official language in this country. Over 30 million speak it anyway. Hurray for democracy!

Yet, Spanish speakers want to be inclusive. We like English speakers learning our anthem in Spanish, it's a good way of learning this country's second language.

Last I checked, it is illegal to enter this country without permission or the proper forms. It’s also pretty arrogant to refuse to learn the main language of our culture (English) and then tell us to learn theirs! Narrow minded? You need to open your eyes, were being invaded and told what we need to do to make them happy. The last time people did this it was the Nazi’s. These immigrants have broken our laws and now are dictating to us how we should treat them. This is the whole point. What gives them this right? Being human....just being here.... No! it doesn't! Doing this in any country is wrong. Yes there are other immigrants but the main difference between them and the Illegal Mexican immigrants is that they don't arrogantly parade and protest demanding the same wrights that we American born have just because they survived such struggle to get here (hopping the fence).

If the message if that immigrants become american by singing the anthem in Spanish - then the message is wrong. You become an american by adapting its ideologies and characteristics of the country, not by changing them to your likeness. Get real! Nobody on other countries would like it if, people start to sing their national anthem in English.
Show respect, to get respect.

So just getting your feet on some soil makes you a citizen of the country you are currently in? That is amazing, I never knew that, when did that law get passed? Oh that’s right, IT DIDN'T! Why should we grant citizenship or even working rights to ANYONE, not just Hispanic (good job turning this into a racial issue by the way) simply because they are here, when we have thousands waiting in line, respecting the laws and the system who really do want to assimilate and be part of the fabric that makes this country so great? If you can answer this question with anything that makes remotely any sense I applaud you. This is not a racial issue…period. It is an issue of respecting the laws. This country will only survive if it has a system of checks and balances. Quick question for you Mexico, is your border open? You don't happen to shoot people on your southern border who are trying to come in do you? Oh that's right you do! But for some reason the US, the most powerful country in the world should have loose borders allowing anyone to come as they please, and oh while there here pick up a green card or two. Give me a frickin break!

No not racial at all yet most of the negative comments here all point to Mexicans as the example of so called illegal immigration.

Well what is happening on May 1st?? Who is organizing the worker lock out? Is it the Italians? The Germans? hmm....you scream the loudest you will get the most attention that's the way it works.

The only reason it is centered around the hispanic race is because they have the most to lose. There are of course other people here working illegally, but they are mostly hispanic.

The problem with that is that Mexicans are not the Latinos. There is this view of immigrants and Latinos as a monolithic entity so if you wanna say Latinos, Latin-American immigrants that would probably be at least slightly more accurate than scapegoating Mexicans.

Oh and Hispanics are not a race. There are many races that fall under the Hispanic label.

Okay thank you, I will make sure to use the correct terms from now on. I am still waiting for an answer as to why we should give citizenship or working rights...anyone??

No other immigrant group coming to this country felt it necessary to rewrite The National Anthem nor replace the official language of the United States of AMERICA! Latinos, Cubans, Italians, Poles, German, etc legal or border jumper, want to be accepted just as we all do whether we were born here or not. However, the difference between the Latinos and the Asians and the Italians and just about every other immigrant group is that while the others came and ADOPTED the American culture and in turn WERE adopted by the American people, the Latinos' behavior indicates that they want to CHANGE us and mold US into THEIR image. The term "melting pot" is very clear. When something melts, it changes form and becomes something different and new. The Latinos don't appear to want to change and become someone different and new; by their actions it is clear they want the rest of us who are here with government approval to change and become like them. That is why Spanish is the unofficial second language of the US rather than Italian or Polish or Gallic or and number of languages of the peoples who came here and assimilated. Latinos appear to not want to assimilate. The appearance is they want to conquer. If the appearance is wrong then it is THEIR behavior and tactics that must change not the behavior and tactics of the rest of the people of the United States. I am appalled at the behavior of the immigrants who say they want to be here and gain a better life yet live 20 to 30 people in a house, or stand,loitering on street corners long after the employers have hired staff for the day, or worse the advocates for the immigrant who instead of bringing them home to their own house to help them will instead sleep on someone else's property after a legal eviction. Threatening a walkout on May 1st that will cost the schools their children attend to lose state aid whne their children stay home is not an action of someone who loves their "adopted" country. Boycotting businesses and workplaces on May 1st to hurt sales and productivity is not the action of a people that SAY they want to become one with us. These actions are akin to the feet stomping of a petulant child who would rather hurt themselves and others than listen to reason. Until the "advocates" for the Latino community STOP stoking the fires and instead put their money and their homes where their mouths are the controversy will continue. Do I believe in stronger borders? Absolutely. However, I also believe that every immigrant already here should be documented and background checked and allowed to stay as long they are not fugitives from their own country. But, change my language and change my anthem NO WAY!

It is a sad day when a countries athem or language can't be respected. When I here for example the Canadian athem I respect the wishes of the Canadians present. It does not need to be changed to have the same meaning to all peoples. When I visit someones home, I respect their rules.......

I read about this project via the Washington Post and am puzzled as to what the coordinators hope to gain by this effort. The national anthem is the national anthem, just as the U.S. flag is comprised of bars and stripes. You would no more add circles to its design and call it the U.S. flag than you should alter the words or music of the Star Spangled Banner and call it the Latino version of the national anthem. The authors and singers of this song would have been better served to offer it up as an anthem to the immigration reform movement (much like "We are the World" was an anthem for African famine relief).

Wow American Girl: Stereotype much? Anyway no one is threatning the English language and no one is here to conquer because well last time I checked the history wasn't it the Europeans who conquered? The language used in your comment and many other comments just shows how easily people can buy into a culture of fear based on stereotypes and misinformation.

Unless you all live in a bubble I'm sure you come into contact with many immigrants on a daily basis, the point of the boycott on Monday is to force people to recognize the role that immigrants play in day to day life.

As I have posted before, history has shown that rights are not won by waiting idly

All political opinions aside, the facts remain the same: the National Anthem of the United States of America is the Star Spangled Banner, and this anthem is sung in the National Language of the USA which is English. If you expect to gain sympathy in your struggle to become a citizen of the United States this is not the way to do it. You will find more supporters of your cause if you try to assimilate into the system here in the US rather than isolate yourself from it. This does not mean you should hang the US flag above your native flag, or that you have to give up any of your cultural identity. We are proudly a country of immigrants, different cultures are what make this country so great. Be proud of where you come from, but accept the fact that in the United States the national language is English. Creating a new version the National Anthem, which is a source of enormous pride for all American citizens regardless of where they come from, will do nothing except create animosity towards your cause.

we are an angry bunch. Should we dismantle the statue of liberty. It is our diversity that makes this country strong. How many MEDAL OF HONOR latinos e.g. mexicans. Go look. Their heroism will make you CRY. Compassion is a current that can run both ways. Love can overcome and I am not a hippie or a religious zealot. Really what are we so upset about are these illegal immigrants going to take your job. Well not for me Hopefully not for you. These individuals are coming here for the same reason as those that came through Ellis island in the 19th and early 20th century.

I think that Bush is being biggited and totally unreasonable and I don't like it. I am moving to the USA after high school, and I am disappointed in Bush's clear dislike for the latino community. Canada has English and French. Why can't the United States of America have English and Spanish? I can't think of a good reason. Can You?

Don't learn English because we asked you to. Do it to help yourself!

Spanish speakers will always face poor job prospects- why not increase your options?

No one is debating why the illegal immigrants want to come to America, it IS for a lot of the same reasons the immigrants came here in the 19th and 20th century. It is the best country in the world. Also, anyone that does not feel some sense of compassion for specifically what the Mexican people have to go through living in a very corrupt country has a cold heart. It is not an issue of “well, these people are good people and just want to work so why shouldn't we let them?” Please think of a more intelligent argument then that. This is about people blatantly breaking the law and taking advantage of a system that everyone that is hear legally is paying for. Breaking the law is a black and white issue, either you are or your not, that’s why we have them. Illegal workers are NOT good for our economy. The problem starts with the employers who are willing to employ these workers because they are cheap and don't want to follow the minimum wage laws that have existed in this country for decades or pay taxes to the government. The only reason the stereotype jobs like landscaper's and fruit pickers are mostly Mexican is NOT because there are no Americans that are willing to do the work, rather the illegals are willing to undercut the American worker so deeply that they wouldn’t even be able to support them selves. They also abuse our healthcare system and social services that we pay for out of our tax dollars. No sane person would have a problem understanding why someone would want to live here, in fact I would probably do the same if I was a Mexican citizen, but I would understand just like they do, that it is illegal and I am taking a huge risk and I would except any and all punishment. Now because we want to enforce are laws and our borders we are all of a sudden racist and inhumane.

And Ms. Maegan la Mala, you are missing a very important word in one of your comments that all supporters of your cause seem to conveniently forget.

"the point of the boycott on Monday is to force people to recognize the role that immigrants play in day to day life."

You forgot the Illegal part before the word immigrants. If there was a protest where all immigrants stayed home for a day, this country would be ghost town...we are ALL immigrants or born from immigrants.

I don't believe in the term illegal when used as an adjective for people. People cannot be illegal. They may commit illegal acts hence why I will not use the illegal modifier.

"Wow American Girl: Stereotype much?" --Maegan la Mala

Pot + Kettle => Black.

Where is your comment coming from? I simply stated a viewpoint shared by many citizens who have been weaned on the national anthem since elementary school, much like we've recited the pledge of allegiance over and over and over again. The Star Bangled Banner, in both words and music, is what it is. Change it all you want to but don't pretend it is the original or represents some national symbol in new form. Frankly, I've empathized with the immigrant reform movement and have argued on behalf of it to friends and coworkers. But it's attitudes like yours which throw out casual allegations against criticisms with charges of racism that minimizes the growth of empathy outside the immigrant community. People are entitled to differ in their opinions and differ as to the best approach to bring about reform and help all. Pissing off others who might otherwise work for you is a short-sighted approach doomed to fail. Let's face facts here: illegal immigrants, regardless of the number of protests they organize are not going to be the reason any meaningful reform occurs. U.S. citizens will ultimately have to support it for true change to occur.

Oh by the way my family did not come here from Puerto Rico because the U.S. was the best country in the world. They came here because the U.S. invaded and destroyed the island's independent economy with free handouts and tax breaks to multinationals....hmm sounds familiar?

So Maegan la Mala, I am curious what do you think the United States government should do to handle this immigration issue?

Honestly, politically speaking I believe in open borders. Capital is allowed to flow through the borders to the benefit of coporations but I am fully aware that is not an option. People who have been here working should not be kicked out for lack of "papers" . So yes I'm pro amnesty. While undocumented workers do not pay some taxes they definately pump money into the economy in numerous ways including paying sales tax.

Ok well I am glad you see that you understand that not only are open borders not possible but it is extremely dangerous. The US is a world target for various reasons, so not protecting our borders would be extremely idiotic. So people who have been working here as you call it "with a lack of papers" should not be kicked out huh? Why not? Does every other country in the world except the US allow paperless workers to stay? No they don't and neither should we. Why should they be given special treatment when we have thousands of people waiting in line for the system to do what is supposed to do? Because they were able to crack the extremely tough(notice the sarcasm here) US border? And please, paying sales tax doesn't even put a dent in the money that we lose to illegal workers every year.

Are you specifically talking about the U.S. /Mexico border? How are people coming here dangerous? And please don't use the terrorism excuse, that has been proven to be overexagerated, after all those that have been accused of the 9-11-01 plot over stayed their legally obtained visas no? There are reports that show that tightning the borders will not lower immigration numbers just make the underground network stronger. People who want to come here will find a way. What needs to be changed are the conditions that cause people to come here. That's the only real way to control immigration.

Your absoltutely right, the only way to control or minimize it is to fix the corruption and poor living conditions that are causing people to flee their home country.

News Flash Hey guys take a break have dinner.
..more than three-quarters of Americans favor allowing illegal immigrants who have spent many years in the United States to apply for citizenship, according to a poll conducted for CNN by Opinion Research Corp. (Watch how Americans line up on amnesty -- 3:22)

Maegan - last I checked, PR is still there. I came here from PR for the immense opportunities the US has vs. th mess teh politicos continue to create in PR. I learned the language and how to sing the anthem - In english. If folks want the anthem in Spanish, they should return to where it is sung in Spanish.

Damn, these pendejos can be hateful! All I have to say is, all of you who are trumpeting about how this is America, speak English, yadda yadda - go to England if you want to speak English in its native setting. Here, if you're so gung ho about learning the native tongue, learn actual Native tongues - the ones luckily enough to be preserved before entire Native cultures were utterly decimated by white European settlers. And for that matter, in many parts of this country, after Native languages, the next language spoken here (chronologically) was Spanish. So, even though Spanish was also the language of the colonizers, in many regards it makes *more* sense to speak Spanish in this country than English.

English is just the language of the culture that was most successful in its colonialism, imperialism, and destruction of other cultures. Punto. It's the language of the victors, and the victors in this case are fairly morally reprehensible.

Yours truly,
a Puerto Rican who will never again stand up for the flag or the anthem of the nation who raped and pillaged hers.

Jack....on the chronology of languages, the "Native Americans" weren't native at all. They migrated here, they weren't even the first. Before them were the Japanese and Polynesians, and before them were the Vikings, and before them, who knows? If you're going to make statements like that, at least learn what you're talking about.

Use fighting words expect a fight. Can you take a punch? BUTA! Baszd meg a picsádat. Menj az anyad picsiajaba! Te szájba baszott kurva!I am sorry that wasn't Spainish. Was it? How do you feel. Not very comforting is it? I guess there isn't a concept of pouring gas on fire in the latino world. TOM TANCREDO FOR PRESIDENT!!!

Okay, who is the one genius writing this phony thing up under all these fake names?

All these so-called "Americans": SPEAK ENGLISH, ENGLISH ONLY, NATIONAL ANTHEM IN ENGLISH ONLY.

Like you even KNOW the national anthem. Do ONE of these personas (Latin here, not Spanish) know the actual name of the national anthem? Do ONE of these personas know how many stanzas there actually are? Does ONE of these personas understand the story structure of the song? Do you? PROVE IT.

And for all the supposed "Hispanics" saying LEARN SPANISH, IT'S AMERICAN AS CHERRY PIE, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OUR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, ETC. ETC. ETC., your biggest fear is that we Americans WILL learn Spanish.

We will take your bloody Spanish and make it our own, but it won't be your Spanish anymore, but ours: our own Spanglish.

And maybe our grandchildren will have the opportunity to read El Cid or Don Quijote in the original, with equal facility as reading Romeo and Juliet or Henry V.

And as for the National Anthem, whose real name is "The Battle of Fort McHenry", written during the British&Canadian invasion of Washington DC during the War of 1812, it has 4(!) stanzas, not 2 or 3. It is about the Americans' fight to prevent the British Reconquistas from taking the young USA back as a colony after it had been so recently liberated. It wasn't even used until late WWI when Woodrow Wilson approved its use as a "morale" song for the armed forces; it wasn't recognized as a "national" anthem until FDR.

The song deals with the vision of apparent defeat, the potential cost of defeat, the recognition of the sliminess and valuelessness of the enemy, and finally the courage to ETERNALLY defeat him through constant vigilance, with GOD's help.

No nos suenen como un himno pa' la raza ni pa' las reconquistas de aztlan, mas el juicio del Dios en contra de todos los locos que quieren destruir lo que valemos nosotros los gringos.

La idioma es el herrimiento; lo que significamos revela los almas nuestros.

Sabes, la razon unica de que el ingles es nuesta idioma es porque de UN VOTO en el Congreso Continental en el año 1783; los votos fueron iguales entre el ingles (la idioma del nord y del sul) y el aleman(la idioma de las colonias por la mitad). Por el primer eligir, Benjamin Franklin habia querido el frances. Entonces, Èl habia pensado en que el ingles seria un pobre, pero mejor de que seria el aleman. Y es por eso, por su voto sencilla y solitario, que el ingles es la idioma nacional.

Piensa en eso: si Benjamin Franklin habia elegido al aleman, Alemania (con alianza de los EEUU) hubiera sido el ganador de la Guerra Mundial I, y todo el mundo hispano hubiera sido los esclavos de los alemanes maniacos. JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA!

DEUTSCHLAND, DEUTSCHLAND, ŰBER ALLES......

I can't belive the kind of reaction this is getting. It's one of the most beautiful thing's i have ever heard. Somehow people get offended by this, and yet you ask them if the Bible is any less the Bible because it was translated out of the Origional Hebrew and Aramaic, and they have no answer. Go Figure.

The first language illegal chinese immigrants learn in NYC is usually spanish. It doesn't belong to the hispanics anymore.

Matthew 25:29 For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him.

"the flag, the anthem and other symbols of patriotism belong to all of us"

The U.S. Flag, Star Spangled Banner and any other U.S. symbol of patriotism belongs to Americans born and raised in the U.S., NOT TO IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO THE U.S. ILLEGALLY.

How dare the ILLEGAL Hispanic community make a mockery of the National Anthem! It's obvious that you folks truly do not want to be U.S. citizens and only want to stir up trouble. Otherwise you would be acting like you want to be citizens.

Go back where you came from!!!!!

"I can't belive the kind of reaction this is getting. It's one of the most beautiful thing's i have ever heard."

It's just downright DISRESPECTFUL! It has nothing to do with being offended, but now that you said that, how would Mexicans, Spaniards, and others feel if their anthems were put in other languages.

For me, it's not an issue for those who immigrated to the U.S. LEGALLY, it's a problem with any immigrant who came here ILLEGALLY. And, those who are here ILLEGALLY who are out in the streets waving their home countries flags, WHY WOULD I AS A U.S. BORN CITIZEN BELIEVE THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN? If you love your countries so much, why don't you go back and do what it takes to make your country as great as the U.S. use to be? This country is going downhill fast and it's because of all these issues segregating further the citizens of this country.

And another note to those who would gleefully endorse entering this county illegally:

Proverbs 13:22. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.

Yes, WE ARE AMERICANS.

We will take what we want, when we want it. We always have and always will. We took the land, we took the waters, we took the sky. We took the bones and blood of the earth, calling them mineral riches and oil. We took the blood of the former inhabitants of this land, and it lives in most of our veins, just as it does in latin americans. Our modern Charismatic/Pentecostal Christianity derived from the Native American Ghost Dance (a strange form of Mormonism), and the Indians have taken over Christianity. We are heirs to ALL traditions and cultures, but beholden to NONE.

WE ARE AMERICANS.

And now, we are confronted with the "Aztlan Revolution". How PITIFUL!

As we took everything else, we will take your language, we will take your music, we will take your culture, we will take your land, AND WE WILL TAKE YOUR YOUR WOMEN. Your Aztlan grandchildren whom you struggle to leave a legacy to, will be OUR CHILDREN. They will grow up walking like us, talking like us, thinking like us, drinking like us, singing like us, getting their 'bling' like us, looking like us, booking like us, AND THEY WILL BE OURS. As my canuck grandfather (a trapper) would say about his 13 kids or 86 grandkids, "ANYTHING caught in my trap is MINE."

Better that than a bunch of german maniacs -- Either that or run back to your own country and go hide in a cave till you die. Then you at least won't have to know about it.

MAYBE NO ONE ELSE CAME UP WITH THE SPANISH NATIONAL ANTHEM BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO, CHANGING THE BEAT IS ALSO CHANGING THE SONG, SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH PUTTING IT IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE? WHAT GETS ME EVEN MORE FUCKING PISSED IS THAT WHITE PEOPLE WILL LET ANYONE INTO THEIR COUNTRY, BLACK PEOPLE, ASIAN PEOPLE, AND OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THEY CAN'T LET HISPANICS IN AND LESS MEXICANS???????? YA'LL ARE ONLY SCARED BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MANY OF US AND YOU'RE SO GREEDY THAT YOU WOULD BE SCARED TO SHARE A BILINGUAL COUNTRY!!!!! AND YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE AMERICANS (WHITE PEOPLE) ARE SOOOO LAZY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE!!!!!!!! BUT YOU DO WANT US TO DO YOUR WORK, HUH? BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE'RE THE HARDEST WORKERS FOR THE LEAST MONEY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT SOME LAZY BITCHES WHO JUST WAIT AROUND TO GET PAID ALOT!!!!!! WE DO THE FARMING, BUILDING, AND EVERYTHING!!!!!!! BUT IF WE LEAVE YOU BASTARDS WON'T BE ABLE LIVE WITHOUT US! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? KICK EVERYONE OUT EXCEPT THE WHITE PEOPLE? WHITE PEOPLE ARE THE LAZIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD PROBABLY, SO GO AHEAD AND TRY!!!!!!!! YOU CAN'T EVEN LIVE WITHOUT US FOR A WEEK!!!!!!! WATCH THE MOVIE, A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN, GOT DAMN YA'LL PISS ME OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

See?

I've already figgered out how to steal your "sledgehammer" !!!!

I identify as a non-hispanic white woman and I am very offended by the way in which everyone has been equating the Spanish language with 'illegal'Mexico to U.S. immigration. Are there no Spanish speaking 'legal' Americans? The knee-jerk reaction to assume that all Spanish speakers are undocumented is...strange to say the least.

This confusion has chilled me to the bone. As disturbing is the threat/promise to "take women." As a woman, I happen to have first-hand knowledge that I am not an object and I think I can safely assume that Latinas are also not objects, things to be taken, that which belongs to anyone besides themselves.

As a side note, in Latin, persona means mask, not person. And its plural is personae, not personas. Perhaps you were looking for homines? mortales? populus? gens? plebs?

"Wow American Girl: Stereotype much? Anyway no one is threatning the English language and no one is here to conquer because well last time I checked the history wasn't it the Europeans who conquered? The language used in your comment and many other comments just shows how easily people can buy into a culture of fear based on stereotypes and misinformation."

This just goes to prove what the criminals hopping the border are up to. Once again the Europeans who wiped out the natives of this continent and the continent to our south are up to their old tricks. Perhaps you haven't heard Augustin cepeda of the brown berets saying "we claim this land, it is ours, it has always been ours,and we're still here and uh none of this talk about deporting. If anyone's gonna be deported it's gonna be you. You old white people, it is your duty to die" You can hear the audio for yourself here. http://www.wtam.com/pages/frantz_page.html

If you think that the citizens of this country won't do something to the criminals you're sadly mistaken. The criminal government here might not but Americans won't roll over for an invasion.

No I was not looking for any of those contortions of meaning, tho' I admit I DID use the wrong form of the plural. Thank you for the correction. Pesky foreign words get so damned *ANGLICIZED* in English.

As far as the objectification of women goes, you're JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION. What I did, was to state publicly and openly, the psychotic subconscious gringo fears toward the illegal aliens, and run them through a total role reversal, so each side could see where they stand. It's not subtle. It's not cute. But every gringo in Americas is willing to deprive you of any pleasure you could find with an Aztlan husband, tho' he, the American, be unwilling to stand in the gap.

And don't try to pretend this is about politics money or power. It's about what I need for me and mine. And if you're honest, you'll say the same thing too.

What's wrong with a direct translation?

¿Opinión de O, puede usted ver, por la luz temprana del amanecer, qué nosotros granizó tan orgulloso en destellar pasado del crepúsculo? ¿De quién amplias rayas y estrellas brillantes, con la lucha peligrosa, sobre los terraplenes miramos, tan galantemente fluíamos? Y el fulgor rojo de los cohetes, las bombas que estallaban en aire, dio la prueba con la noche que nuestra bandera todavía estaba allí. ¿Opinión de O, esa bandera estrella-star-spangled todavía agita sobre la tierra del libre y el hogar del valiente?

I would like to see a movie "A world without the USA", all of you people would be speaking German. Where would all of you be working and living without the USA???????? Donde estaran sin Los EEUU??????? Hay muchos de nosotros que han hecho el esfuerzo de aprender otras idiomas. Me gustaria ver un poco de comprension en cada lado.

This is purely silly, and it's the kind of crap that my Irish and German Catholic ancestors took from Anglo-Americans, yet today 60% of white Americans are of German descent and the rest are probably Irish. Basically, give the Latinos 50-60 years-America is a diverse nation that has only been strengthened by immigration, never weakened. "Nuestro Himno" is pretty, no hablo Espanol, pero anyways I think this debate is meaningless. And translating the song into Spanish makes it more understandable to about 600 million around the globe, thus in an age of anti-American bias globally helping to show to other cultures what the US stands for. I hope this makes sense. The US Declaration of Independence was translated into German and published auf Deutsch within a day of being published in English. And learning a second language never hurt anyone.

Wow Fernanda,if you aren't one BIG FAT RACIST I'd hate to see one. The last time I looked, most Hispanics were considered to be WHITE, but of Hispanic descent.

As for your statements about lazy white people, you wouldn't be coming here if the SO CALLED LAZY WHITE people you refer to hadn't built this great country. So, I don't know or care where you came from, but you need to stop showing your RACIST side. If you came here legally, feel free to stay. If you are here illegally, GO HOME AND FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY TO GET BACK HERE.

The lazy white people will live on fine without you!

To all you people who say for Latinos and Mexicans to get out of America...be quiet...most of the low paying jobs are taken by illegal immigrants because "White" people don't want to do them...working in the fields is hard...Illegal Immigrants usually work under the scorching sun at about 100 degrees so you white people can eat...and then u say for them to get out...then what about the dumb fence they want to build? If you kick all the Mexicans back to Mexico..who's going to build it? OR are you going to make them build them while exploiting them..then kick them out?...USA was built on different cultures...by saying that English should be the only language spoken in America seems to be kinda communist don't you think?...The American society is constructed of different ethnic backgrounds..No one in the USA is 100% American...because Americans do not exist..it is a name given to people do live in this soil..that come from other countries...Be realistic, most words in the American language were derived from other countries. Food as well is a combination of countries around the world. Some of the most delicious foods come from foreign countries!!!So here is something for you people to think about....Roses are REd, Violets are blue, without MEXICANS what would white people do...and for all you white haters...aprendan el español.

yo estoy muy agradecida que los artistas tambien nos esten apollando en este situacion
de los immigrantes muchas gracias

No, Maegan la Mala I do NOT stereotype at all. This is the situation in which I live and work helping the Latino Immigrant day in and day out. I know what I am speaking of. There are rules in our organization such as the time we open and time we close and structures in which we must work to assist those who come to us. I did not make the rules, or design the structure but I must live by them to keep everything runnig smoothly. Unfortunately, the clients we meet do not respect opening and closing times, rules and regulations. They want what they want when they want it and are upset when they come after hours and no one is there to help them. That is FACT; not stereotype, not racism, but the most stressful fact of my position. I am responsible for hundreds of children. I need all people who work with or around the children to be documented and background checked. Do you have children? If you do, wouldn't you like to be sure that when you entrust them to someone else's care that they are safe? When I have up to 200 people standing outside the building with children coming and going, statistics tell me that at least 1 person in that group is a danger to children. No matter what their nationality, country of origin, language, etc. In our area we have Latino Gangs going by the names: Latin Kings, Bloods, and M13 terrorizing our neighborhoods. I do not think it is too much to ask that every one in this country be documented and background checked. You and I live in a great land of opportunity almost taken away from us by terrorists in 2001. Why does tightening the borders and documenting and background checking scare you so? I can't get into any other country on the face of this earth, including ALL the Latin American countries and Mexico without a passport or visa and other identification to prove I am who I say I am. I would never insult someone by changing their rules or anthems because it is more convenient for me. I have no problem with Nuestro Himno (which was translated in English in my daily paper today and is NOTHING like the Star Spangled Banner - the recognizable name of our anthem) being used as suggested above as the Immigration Reform Anthem BUT, it is not now and will never be the National Anthem of the United States of America! The Star Spangled Banner written to the tune of another song is American History - we CANNOT change history nor SHOULD we!

The discussion continues:

America Talks Back.

Everyone here learns the first stanza to "The Star-Spangled Banner" somewhere along the line. But few know that Francis Scott Key wrote FOUR full stanzas to "The Gallant Defense of Fort McHenry", which was made our national anthem in 1931.
...
...
...The Gallant Defense of Fort McHenry
...
...Francis Scott Key, 1814
...
...
...Oh say can you see,
..... by the dawn's early light
...What so proudly we hailed
..... at the twilight's last gleaming,
...Whose broad stripes and bright stars
..... through the perilous fight
...O'er the ramparts we watch'd
..... were so gallantly streaming?
...And the rockets' red glare,
..... the bombs bursting in air,
...Gave proof through the night
..... that our flag was still there.
...Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
...O'er the land of the free,
..... and the home of the brave?
...
...
...On the shore dimly seen
..... through the mists of the deep,
...Where the foe's haughty host
..... in dread silence reposes,
...What is that which the breeze,
..... o'er the towering steep,
...As it fitfully blows,
..... half conceals, half discloses?
...Now it catches the gleam
..... of the morning's first beam,
...In full glory reflected
..... now shines in the stream.
...'Tis the star-spangled banner, oh long may it wave
...O'er the land of the free
..... and the home of the brave!
...
...
...And where is that band
..... that so vauntingly swore
...That the havoc of war
..... and the battle's confusion
...A home and country
..... should leave us no more?
...Their blood has wash'd out
..... their foul footstep's pollution.
...No refuge could save
..... the hireling and slave
...From the terror of flight
..... or the gloom of the grave.
...And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
...O'er the land of the free
..... and the home of the brave.
...
...
...Oh, thus be it ever
..... when freemen shall stand
...Between their lov'd home
..... and the war's desolation!
...Blest with vict'ry and peace
..... may the heav'n-rescued land
...Praise the power that hath made
..... and preserv'd us a nation!
...Then conquer we must,
..... when our cause is just,
...And this be our motto,
..... "In God Is Our Trust,"
...And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
...O'er the land of the free
..... and the home of the brave.
...
...
...
Okay, so where, exactly, can we find the Spanish words? Links tantalize us all over the web but no-one delivers. Not even Domino's.

From the Associated Press:

"'Nuestro Himo' An English translation of a Spanish-language version of the national anthem:

The day is breaking, do you see it?
In the light of the dawn?
What we so acclaimed at nightfall?
Its stars, its stripes, flew yesterday
In the fierce battle in a sign of victory.
The glow of battle, in step with liberty.
At night they said, 'It's being defended!'

Chorus:

Oh say! the voice of your starry beauty
Is still unfolding
Over the land of the free.
The sacred flag?

Its stars, its stripes,
Freedom, we are equal.
We are brother, in our anthem.
In the fierce combat in a sign of victory
The glow of battle, in step with liberty
My people keep fighting.
It's time to break the chains.
At night they said: 'It's being defended!'
Oh say! Your starry beauty is still unfolding."

Sounds like a fighting song to me; not a pure translation of the historical song about the flag that so many of my uncles died for before I ever got to meet them!!!! Oh those men: their parents (my grandparents) were immigrants who came and assimilated!!!

I can trace everything I love about America and everything good that America has done for me to the immigration of my grandparents and great-grandparents -- who arrived speaking no English.

What made them good Americans and paved the way for my American experience wasn't speaking English. It was love of and gratitude to their new country, hard work, and being good neighbors in their new community.

My espan~ol is pretty pathetic, but Where Are The Lyrics to "Nuestro Himno"? I want to sing it and feel a little bit of what my immigrant grandparents felt.

I wish all my Hispanic/Latino neighbors -- citizens and wannabe citizens -- a great victory of solidarity Monday. Mazel Tov!

After reading this ENTIRE discussion... I find this pretty pathetic. I am an American who has many friends that come from Latino descent. But you know what? They are legal. I also have friends who live in Mexico that I visit every year. One of the nicest men I have ever met is a jewelry maker in Mexico. The point I am trying to make is that this issue is not about race. What is making me so mad and disgusted is that people are calling "Nuestro Himo" the "new Star Spangled Banner". It's not a translation... it's a disgrace. The legal Americans here that are from latino descent that I've spoken find it laughable. Not only that, they are annoyed. Come here legally and you will find respect. Come here illegally and you will not be welcomed, not only by "gringos", but also by those descended from latinos.

My sister-in-law is not a citizen of the U.S., although she lives here. HOWEVER, she is here LEGALLY. And she had to go through A LOT to get here legally. She is Indian, from Trinidad. Let me ask you a question. She did everything right. She filed all the paper work, she waited a long time, she pays taxes, and she is even married to my brother, who is a born American. Yet, she has to wait seven years to be granted citizenship. Yet MILLIONS of people who came here illegally are going to be allowed to become citizens overnight, after they broke our laws?! That is ridiculous! The lesson that teaches is that if you pay taxes, follow procedures, and abide the laws, you get screwed. Yet, if you are a criminal, and break the laws, you will get rewarded with citizenship. Does that make ANY sense?! This country is going crazy. And I am fed up.
P.S. My sister-in-law learned ENGLISH. She DID NOT demand that everyone else learn Hindi to accomodate her.

People you are missing the point. "Nuestro Himno" is not a translation of the Star Spangle Banner." The people that wrote it, did it to make money. Where is that money going to their own pockets. You want to be call AMERICAN, learn the national anthem in English, and show respect when signing it.

People are missing the point that it wasn't even an "american" who produced this whole thing. It was a British person. Where is the outrage against Great Britain????

So Fernanda, WE don't want to learn another language?? Are you really that stupid? We are not the ones trying to learn a new culture, the illegals are! If I moved to another country I would not expect nor DEMAND that everyone learned my language because it would make it so much easier for me! Talk about lazy. If you want to be around people that talk spanish then stay in Mexico. And please the real language of the US is Spanish? Do you guys really believe this line of bullshit you are throwing out there? So Fernanda I am guessing you live in the US, and I sense for some reason your not so happy to be here. Guess what you can leave whenever you want to. All you little bitches complaining about this country or the "white" people that are here, let's all meet at the border, we will be happy to give you a proper fairwell.

This whole debate is ludicrous. The illegal alien activists (a concept that is truly amazing to me on its face) have rather adeptly managed to use their support within the liberal media into the non-reality that this is somehow related to "immigrant rights". Utterly untrue.

As an ILLEGAL immigrant, you have *no* right to the services afforded to those who obey the law, come here legally through the proper channels and pay taxes. That last part is important. Regardless of what any of you may say, illegal aliens, by and large are not paying taxes. Don’t hand me the “they pay sales tax every time they buy something” line, either. That argument is as tired as the idea that giving them driver’s licenses would somehow compel them to buy car insurance. Wake up and smell the refritos, folks. Not happening, not gonna happen.

I challenge anyone on here to give me a remotely reasonable answer as to why those who brazenly flout the laws of our country and contribute nothing to us as a society should benefit from the infrastructure built with and maintained by the law-abiding taxpayers of our country. The quick answer is: you can’t. No rational person would believe that legalizing 14 million lawbreakers is not a direct kick in the teeth to the thousands waiting in line for 3, 5, 10 years to get into this country legally and pay for these benefits.

I’m a long-time conservative, and I’m personally offended by the Bush administration’s audacity in saying that this is anything other than an amnesty ploy. A five year old can figure this out. The only two possible motives for a plan such as this are:

1) You are a bleeding-heart liberal who just loves giving our country away for free and hates to see America prosper as a superpower
2) You are a conservative, but utterly beholden to corporate lobbyists who rely on an illegal alien workforce to maintain their high profit margins on goods and services.

That’s really it. For Bush and his buddies, it’s the latter and for the liberals, it’s the former.

If you’re an “open borders” person, I actually have a bit more respect for you than Bush, because at least the people who believe our borders should just be open (while I think their idea is ludicrous) are at least being honest about it, and not hiding their true intentions with some other false reasoning.

This whole problem can be stopped in large part by simply enforcing the laws already on the books since 1986 and levying fines and jail time to corporations that hire illegals. It’s very simple – you dry up the employment opportunites and these folks will “deport” themselves. They’re not here for any other purpose, for the most part. They work, they make their money, and they send it back to Mexico. Before you jump down my throat and call me a racist, bigot, or (insert your mantra here), I’ll throw this little reality check out there: securing one’s border and enforcing our immigration laws is not racist – it is prudent security. Period. There is nothing racist about it. Read the definition, folks – racism is the belief that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of another. That is NOT what is occurring here, nor is it solely about Mexicans. I don’t want illegal immigrants here from ANY country, Mexico or otherwise. The focus is on Mexico and Mexicans for two very obvious reasons:

1) Mexicans made this issue about Mexicans by flying the Mexican flag at rallies, urging Mexicans/Hispanics to blow off work for the day today, etc.
2) I don’t see a whole slew of Swedes pouring across our borders and hanging out in the Home Depot parking lot looking for work. If I did, I’d be focusing on them as well. Unfortunately, it’s Mexican and South American immigrants that predominantly are the offenders, and as such, are the focus.

Screaming racism is the battle cry of the uninformed and desperate. There is a such a negative connotation with the word (and rightfully so) that the activists all know that if they scream “racism” that they will get plenty of coverage on the news and that the general, uninformed American public will take it as fact because they hear it every day. The reality is that if people hear something like this enough, it becomes fact, even though utterly untrue, and it’s nearly impossible to unravel the populous’ mindset once it’s occurred. It’s unfortunate that people are generally so ignorant that they fall for this claptrap.

I’m just happy for the benefits that this “day without an immigrant” (see there we go again – they drop the word “illegal” and it becomes legitimate) has brought. My commute to work this morning has never been easier, I stopped in at Home Depot without having to watch as dozens of illegals drank alcohol and urinated in public, and my morning routine was not interfered with one iota by the supposed lack of people in the workforce for the day. Well done, folks…

Wow, Fernanda, I just read your post and I thought it was staggering what an unbelievable hypocrite you are, not to mention an utter bigot.

First off, let me just say that it’s widely understood by the internet community that typing in all caps is equivalent to yelling, and is also incredibly irritating.

Secondly, it’s not the Spanish national anthem – it is OUR national anthem, translated (and I use that term very loosely) into the Spanish language. I’m pretty sure the Spanish Natl. Anthem is “Marcha Real” – correct me if I’m wrong.

Third – we’re *not* scared of you. Unless by scared you mean intolerant of freeloaders breaking the law, coming into our country and stealing (yes, I said it – stealing) our public services and using our roads, hospitals, etc. without paying for it. If that’s what you meant, then yes, we’re scared. Good and scared.

Additionally, this is not an issue of “the white people will let anyone into their country except Mexicans”. It’s not the country of the white people, FYI. As far as the “bilingual country” goes: English is the national language here, always has and always will be. I don’t see that changing any time in the foreseeable future. At least I sure hope not.

It’s sad that the American (or any other) media will never show what a bunch of unbelievable hypocrites the Mexicans are concerning border security. Out of one side of their mouth, they cry about opening the border with the US and that securing it is outright “racism”, while out of the other, it’s nothing but the opposite. Take a look at your country’s own immigration policy and control of your Southern border with Guatemala. Aside from the rampant civil rights abuses (oh wait, you only have those rights here in the US), you guys have it right. You have your military on the border and they are ruthless in their methods of securing it. When you open your Southern border to anyone who wants to come in from Guatemala or elsewhere then come talk to me. Until then, “hello kettle – this is the pot calling you black”.

And by the way, we most certainly *can* live without illegal immigrants. The whole idea that hundreds of thousands of illegals not showing up to work for one day would be indicative of what would happen if they were all deported is failed logic that an untrained chimp can see right through. It’s clear that employers who hire illegals are not going to replace them for one day of missed work – that doesn’t make economic sense – but if they were to be deported, they most certainly would. If you think that by deporting all illegals that the produce, construction and restaurant industries as a whole would cease to exist, you’re kidding yourself and need a reality check. The United States economy is not some fragile house of cards that can be brought down by the absence of the “mighty illegal alien workers”. Illegal alien labor is not what maintains our status as the lone world superpower.

What *is* the reality is that illegal immigrant labor is ruining trades that used to be filled by legal workers, immigrant or otherwise. Construction, for example used to be a noble trade here in Southern California that people were proud to go into. Wages have been so depressed by illegals willing to work for pennies on the dollar that not many legal workers can afford to work in it anymore as a trade. I know many people who have left the industry because they simply can’t afford to work for $8/hr. where they used to make $20 or more an hour.

Get your head out of your ass and get your facts straight before you spout invectives about people you don’t know.

Hmmm... let's see. I got up and stopped in at Dunkin' Donuts on the way to work. I was waited on by a person who (finally) spoke English without multiple repetitions on my part to be understood and received exactly what I ordered. Pardon me, but where's the downside to a day without illegals? Seems like I'm getting better service and paying the same. Good riddance.
---
and, later this morning, I stopped in at the grocery store (tienda) to buy some things. I was waited on by a polite person at the deli who understood (once again) what I wanted without endless repetition. I asked a store employee where a specific item was and was actually taken to it by the employee. At the checkout I felt like I was back in America once again... the America that I know and love.
---
Oh, by the way. I saved up all my purchases from late last week so that I could buy these things today to counteract the efforts of the benefit sucking illegals in America without permission who vowed to not make such purchases.
---
I lived in Mexico some years back... I never lived in a more corrupt, dirty, disgusting environment before. It's no wonder you want to come here to live... you've already ruined your own country, now you want to wreck ours. Go away.
---
Advice to Mexican illegals...
1. Stop the sham of carrying American flags. You don't want to, you're just doing it to make us think you're on our side. We know you are totally phony.
2. Stop trying to usurp our National Anthem. If you thought you'd endear yourselves to us by doing it, you were totally wrong, my friend. Again, we saw through you as if you were a broken pinata.
3. You can't destroy the greatest economy in the world by taking a day off... in fact, try really hard and take a year off. We wouldn't miss you for one minute.
4. Go back to your own country and protest there for these things and see how far you get. You wouldn't get them because a communist/socialist government like Mexico's wouldn't care one whit what you think or want.
5. I see many people expressing pride in their heritage - Mexico. Pride in what? Mexico has huge riches in natural resources and other things similar to America but squanders and wastes it bounth instead of using it for the good of the people. Get a life, get a job, get a real country. Go home.

...and another thing...
Go home.