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May 11, 2006
Spanish and Yiddish National Anthems
By Profesor Martin Danenberg
“El Quijote del GED”
If I never hear or sing the American national anthem in Spanish, it will be okay as long as two million Hispanics who have been robbed of their youth by not finishing high school can earn their GED here (and millions more in Latin America).
Young people belong in school, but around the world poverty and problems hold people back.
Do you think that George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees is going to be impressed enough to play the Spanish anthem over the English one at Yankees’ games or the next Oscar De La Hoya boxing match will be the place to present it. We have to be careful what we do. We do not buy great numbers of SUV’s when gasoline prices are high and we have to be careful how we affect Americans concerning immigration issues.
The “Day Without Immigrants” is the part of a movement that the Jews never had a chance to participate in Germany in the 1930’s. The last thing that Jews who were being deported from Germany were thinking about, I am sure, was the creation of the German national anthem in Yiddish. The Spanish version of the American national anthem that has caused a controversy should not be a controversy. People have the right to be creative. If those Jews who were being deported from Germany wanted to create the national anthem in Yiddish, they could have, even in that repressed state.
The battle of the Hispanic is best directed into convincing his neighbors to accept his future legalization or to convince those leaders who can convince the Congress. The State of Israel came about when Golda Meir convinced President Harry Truman to change his mind. So that was a great struggle for Jews. Think about that! In Brentwood, New York, my friends in the Central American (mostly Salvadoran) community held a parade that caused a great disruption to the community due to its location and its size (over 50,000 people), but the leaders in both communities agreed that the parade route would be changed. This was important to the future aspirations of the Hispanic community because, in a democracy, we count on the majority for support of important minority issues. The parade was minor compared to the struggle of immigrants to be legalized. The waving of the flag is minor compared to the struggle of immigrants to be legalized. The Mexican flag does not belong in the American classroom and the American flag does not belong in the Mexican classroom. American students have created disorder in schools by waving the American flag after the Mexicans waved theirs. Two wrongs do not make a right! Students have been kicked out of an American school for speaking Spanish and returned because people have the right to speak Spanish in schools. The Spanish version of the American national anthem is a wonderful piece of creativity, but it cannot officially replace the English version until we agree on that. It is a great distraction from the hard work people are doing to achieve legal status.
When the Mexican flag controversy arose in a classroom in Colorado, I wrote that instead of fighting for the flag in the school, the participants should have been fighting for the education of the community that needs education the most in our nation, since 66 percent of Mexican immigrants do not complete our high schools. There is tremendous help on the way for the Hispanic. The American Council on Education will do more to promote the GED across our nation and help Hispanics become more competitive. I predict that Latin American universities will provide distance learning so more people can earn degrees too. Will all of the people who have engaged themselves in this controversy lift a finger to help the education of the least educated? The University of Puerto Rico is making plans to come to New York and possibly other universities will follow into New York and other states. Get the word out that Hispanics can compete and you will see a new, better America. If we put two million more GED’s in the hands of Hispanics quickly, you will see a dramatic difference. And do not be deceived by issues of little importance. Wave your flags at appropriate times and be proud of your language and culture. And make decisions that do not hurt your families and your future aspirations.
I hope that all Jews stand with you as the Danes stood with the Jews against Hitler.
Twelve Latin American nations voted for the partition that led to the State of Israel and six voted to abstain; only Cuba voted against it. The Dominican Republic and other countries saved thousands of Jews. El Salvador maintains an embassy in Jerusalem. We can all build a better America together.
MARTIN N. DANENBERG
7 BLAZER DRIVE
ISLANDIA, NY 11749
GEDHOTLINE@AOL.COM
631-348-1341
www.geocities.com/gedhotline
www.ahorre.com/ged
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Ahorre May 11, 2006 10:20 AM | Noticias | GED Math