The tune of &8220;The Star Spangled Banner&8221; often stirs Americans to stand proudly. The words, when fully appreciated, can make tears come to American eyes.

The song typifies America&8217;s pride and resolve in the &8220;land of the free and the home of the brave.&8221;

This week a Spanish language version of our nation&8217;s national anthem caused a negative stir from the local barbershops to the White House.

Politicians flocked to express opposition to the song, which includes some rewritten lyrics aimed at encouraging Hispanics to continue fighting for immigration reform.

In 1969, some Americans were horrified when Jimi Hendrix performed a version of &8220;The Star Spangled Banner&8221; on his electric guitar at the Woodstock music festival. Today, Hendrix&8217;s version is considered a classic to a generation.

No one has said, &8220;Let&8217;s replace the national anthem with the Spanish version.&8221; Nor has anyone sought to abolish the English language one.

Has American become so intolerant of personal freedoms and different views that we now want to forbid someone from speaking another language?

We agree that any publicly sponsored presentations of the song should be sung in English.

However, we find it hypocritical that Americans &8212; many of whom are only a few generations removed from being immigrants themselves &8212; see nothing wrong with lambasting other Americans for singing the song in Spanish.

America is supposed to be a land of inclusion, not exclusion. And that should translate in any language.