i really don't have a problem with the mere existence of the national anthem in any other language. i am not offended by it at all, rather, i think it's great! i guess it should be ok to sing it any way you can, to express your patriotism. (so long as it's not french...
j/k)
as far as word for word goes, do you really know what the words mean; what they were written about? (please edumacate yourself on this if you don't know, but already have an opinion.)
since the words are a metaphor about the survival of the american ideal through adversity and the continuation thereof by it's people, and not about war and explosive ordinance, why not let a new author have a little license? i mean, if anyone can match it word for word in another language and make it sound ok, then so be it.
having said that, i don't think it should be adopted in any way as an official type of national anthem, we already have one.
but if someone wants to sing it at a private or predominantly spanish speaking event, or play it on a spanish language radio or tv station, then that's ok with me.
it's about being american, and loving our country.
(of all of the american members here, i think that i am probably one of the most affected by non-english speaking americans on a daily basis. just on my block alone, there are 6 or 7 different languages that are most commonly used, at home and on the street.
it irritates the heck out of me that some people, from all over the world of all skin colors, are too freakin' lazy to learn to speak english and have been living here for years. i've known many who live comfortably in their own ethnocentric neighborhoods, but then can't hold a conversation outside of their communities to save themselves. but if they try; if they make an effort, i will bend over backwards to try to communicate with them. my thought is how would you want to be treated if you had to move to another country with a difficult language? and how would you try to fit in?)