Do you have any clue what it means to be American?

President Bush and many others have come out against the new Spanish language version of the National Anthem.

I'm really at a loss for what their reasoning could be.

You see, I thought what made our country great was its dedication to the pursuit of equality for all people; its belief in a meritocracy. I thought our country was about democracy and a marketplace of ideas.

But that's not the message sent these days. We are told that it's not about the ideas, but the language they are voiced in. It's not about sharing your perspective, but having the "correct" one. It's not about who you are, but the kind of flag you are waving, unless you have the right one, and then that's not acceptable either. It's not about the skills and ability you have at a jobs, it's about where you were born or whether you can win a lottery.

We have a flag. We have an anthem. We have social conventions that have dictated a certain predominant language.

Who gives a shit? Everyone country has those things. They don't separate us out from any of the hundreds of other countries in the world.

What do are our core beliefs and principles. Are you, like George Bush or Michelle Malkin, etc. really willing to sacrifice those principles in favor of hollow nationalism?