Re: CHAT: "La Bandera Estrellada"

All this discussion of the Star-Spangled Banner reminded me of Laurie Anderson, who
summed up the lyrics as "a bunch of questions asked during a fire":

  "What's that over there?"
  "Do you see anything?"
  "Is that a flag?"
  "Do you smell something burning?"

I'm *hardly* what you would call an American patriot, but I must say I do love the
American national anthem.  Most national anthems are in the imperative mode ("We're
number one, and don't forget it!"), but the US is the only country I know whose anthem
is in the interrogative mode ("Do you see the flag? Is it still there? Are we number
one or aren't we?").

Matt.