For generations, Americans have revered The Star-Spangled Banner as their National Anthem, singing it at baseball games, karaoke nights and Fourth of July celebrations around the country.
It may come as a surprise, however, that the song’s author, Francis Scott Key, was actually a Mexican immigrant named Francisco Scott Quiñones and that the song was written to his friend and fellow immigrant Jose Canusi after witnessing the storied defense of Ft. McHenry on Sept. 16, 1814.
According to records in the National Archives, the original manuscript (image, below) begins with the words: “Jose, can you see by the dawn’s early light?”
Long a source of pride in the Mexican-American community, the subject of Francis Scott Key’s true identity is taboo in academia and historical re-enactment circles.
“The National Anthem’s Mexican roots are America’s best-kept secret,” says UCLA Musicologist T. Gray Del Norte. ”And it makes perfect sense if you consider that the Statue of Liberty is French and the U.S. Constitution is based on the Iroquois Confederacy.” [Mas…]
Dear Abuelita,
What is the deal on “sexting”? Do guys really think a low-res cam-phone photo of their junk will make me swoon with desire?
Take me to a gallery opening or a new artisan bakery or something dick-less, por plis.
If I judged boys by dick pics, my dance card would be filled with Stiff, Vein-y and Ugly. And that means you, Eduardo. Stop it! Signed, Just an old-fashioned girl, I guess
Dear Old-Fashioned Whiner,
Let’s be honest, we all know you swoon over the low-res cell-cam photos. I’d even bet your cell phone is set on vibrate and kept tucked in your chonies, cochina. [Mas…]
Roots rock singer/guitar slinger and East Los homie (Downey)Dave Alvin sings a classic ode to America, folky roots, broken hearts, independence and Mexican kids shooting fireworks. Hey, baby, it’s the Fourth of July!
Here’s one from the vaults! Is it a lost track from INSANE IN THE BRAIN, the unreleased 2007 album that was the subject of speculation, lawsuits and at least two shootings? Those close to Horchata Ice won’t say. And those ties to Biggie and Tupac? Don’t go there.
I’ve been trying to make light of the Arizona “show me your papers” law in my stand-up but I don’t think people get it.
And I don’t think it’s because I’m a terrible comic (although that’s open to interpretation) but because people in general don’t really grasp what the law implies.
As a South American immigrant with a very paranoid Latina mother, I’ve lived with the fear of “show me your papers” most of my life.
Despite, being white and well assimilated (like a borg), I’ve carried my Social Security card and passport since I became a citizen.
Just last month, I was working on a film set and the consent form said, “Please provide proof of citizenship.” I panicked a little because I forgot my passport. As soon as I handed my paperwork to the agent, he looked me over and said,”Obviously, you were born in America…” [Mas…]
“Industry boom in America. Twelve in a room in America. Lots of new housing with more space. Lots of doors slamming in our face,” they sing in West Side Story (1961.) Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose? We’ve got all the lyrics, too:
Is this one of these videos where you say to yourself, “Some people have way too much time on their hands”? And what kind of man spiral-cuts his wiener and then has nothing to say NOT ONE WORD about bacon and chiles and crema and stuff? Is this 50 seconds of culinary wizardry that will [...]
It’s a July 4 story we all know — Founding Father Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity by flying a kite in a lightning storm. But did it really happen the way they say? Jack Black IS the Hon. Benj. Franklin in this amazing documentary excerpt. (Totally NSFW audio.)
(PNS reporting from ARIZONA) For fashionistas, this July 4 holiday season is less about parades and barbecues and more about flashing your passport, if you have one. The new patriotic papers fashion flair follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the “show me your papers” provisions of SB1070. And now everybody wants those papers. [...]
For generations, Americans have revered The Star-Spangled Banner as their National Anthem, singing it at baseball games, karaoke nights and Fourth of July celebrations around the country.
