President Bush on Friday said he opposes a new, Spanish-language recording of the U.S. national anthem and a plan by illegal immigrants to boycott work and school on Monday.
“The national anthem ought to be sung in English,” Bush told reporters in the Rose Garden. “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.”
Bush was responding to “Nuestro Himno,” or “Our Anthem” a Spanish version of the U.S. national anthem that was released on Friday. A remix, scheduled for release next month, contains lyrics critical of a proposed crackdown on illegal immigration.
“These kids have no parents, cause all of these mean laws” sing the artists, including Wyclef Jean and a hip-hop star who calls himself Pitbull. “Let’s not start a war with all these hard workers. They can’t help where they were born.”
Bush also expressed his disapproval of a national boycott planned for Monday by advocates of illegal immigrants. Unions are urging aliens to skip work and participate in street protests, while their children are being encouraged to skip school.
“I’m not a supporter of boycotts,” Bush said. “It’s very important for people, when they do express themselves, they continue to do so in a peaceful way, in a respectful way, respectful of how highly charged this debate can become.”
