The Star Spangled Banner: Who Has the Right to Sing It?

Several weeks ago a young Mexican-American named Sebastian De La Cruz ripped through the airwaves when he sang the National Anthem at the 2013 NBA Finals game in San Antonio wearing his charro suit. Marc Anthony was also criticized for singing God Bless America during the 2013 MLB All-Star game.

Instead of being praised for their courage and love for the U.S., Sebastian and Marc were criticized by political pundits because of Sebastian's dress attire and the belief that Marc Anthony is not from the U.S. Where does it say in the Constitution that one has to be a particular race or wear a certain outfit to sing the National Anthem or God Bless America?

Sebastian did not let the critics get to him because it made him even more famous as the American media began introducing the new face of Hispanic Americans – being a proud American and at the same time being proud of one's heritage.

Sebastian was also a favorite among the Hispanic media outlets, which made him a star by asking him to come on shows to talk about the situation, how he overcame the critics and even performed some songs.

The political pundits did not get enough so they even ripped Marc Anthony apart for singing God Bless America at the 2013 MLB All-Star game, because pundits thought Marc was not born in the U.S.

Anthony had to clarify to those pundits that he was born in New York City to Puerto Rican-born parents. When will the pundits ever realize that not every single Hispanic was born outside of the U.S? The majority of young Hispanics in the U.S. are natural born citizens that are raised with the American culture instilled in them with the roots of their parents still attached.

When it comes to singing the National Anthem or God Bless America there is no Constitutional law that says only a certain race can sing National American songs. Also no one is bound off limits to the singing the National Anthem in clothes they feel brings pride to the U.S. Anyone that sings the National Anthem does it with pride and joy and that is what should matter not the color of the person's skins or what they are wearing.

The U.S. is a cultural melting pot that political pundits must realize will affect U.S. culture and how each ethnic group displays their pride. Young Hispanics, for the most part, will hold their alliance to the U.S. and maintain roots to their respective Latin American country.

The Constitution specifically states that each citizen has the freedom of expression. Shouldn't Sebastian De La Cruz and Marc Anthony be given those same rights as U.S. born citizens to sing the National Anthem and God Bless America regardless of the color of their skin or cultural heritage?