Is it because the Spanish demanded that the Native Americans speak the Spanish language? Or was the language voluntarily adopted?
I know that the Europeans "implanted" their languages, but I wasn't sure whether or not the natives were allowed to speak their own languages. None of the history books that I have come across have mentioned anything of the sort.

Im chilean, And im really sick of being called mexican, There's nothing wrong about being mexican, but im just not from that country, I dont look mexican, but people think that just because I speak spanish Im Mexican, I hate that.
when they ask me where are u from I say chile and they always say something stupid like is that northern or southern mexico?
Why do they classify everyone who speaks spanish as HISPANIC??? an hispanic person can be White,black, mestizo, and even asian! .. I don't get why americans call themselves europeans, if they are americans... I know that they are of european descent.. but isnt everyone in this continent of european descent?? If a south american or central american calls itself white or european, americans say no you are mexican,,, why are they so stupid? I dont mean to offend anyone but why do americans think the way they do about spanish speaking people?
yeah I agree mexicans are indians IM NOT thats what bother me the most!

A lot of us mexicans are descendants of spanish creoles that were born in Mexico since the 1600's and 1700's. Father Hidalgo is a Spanish Creole who united the mexicans indians, spanish born mexicans and mulattos(mestizos) to form our country of Mexico and all are categorized as Mexican (Spanish Creole, Mestizos, Indians, and recent europeans, blacks or asian immigrants).

People in these yahoo posts argue as to what were suppose to look like. They watch the telenovelas and ask why are there only white mexicans?? There are dark mexican actors like Paty Monterola, Angelica Rivera, Fernando Calunga and more. But they are good looking and they overlook them.

I don't like it when people argue as to what are we suppose to look like and make stereotypes. I find myself having to explain what we are suppose to look like.

Is it a race issue? Whenever someone complains about immigrants, they are usually talking about Mexicans. Why? People don't seem to be bothered by Europeans who speak something other then English. Why is it more ok for them to come here?

I have no problem with being bilingual. Spanish is not my 2nd language. There are people that were born right here in Houston that only speak spanish, and then to demand that I learn to speak spanish??!!

In what world does that make sense?
Just because I live near the border is no excuse for people that live in the US not to speak english. I lived in Germany for years, and I made a very diligent effort to speak German. Might not have been perfect, but I tried.

I work in the medical field and we hear it all the time.
I reiterate what I said before. Living on the border is no excuse. You do not see the same problem in the northern states. When was the last time anyone was in North Dakota and had a problem with language? Or Minnesota It was heavily populated with French. (Well the majority of the setlers were french at one time.)
If it being the case of the immigrants that settled to area. Every state would speak a different language.

English must be the accepted language of the country.
1. europeans that immagrated 100 years ago were told to learn english.
2. In the military it is punishable for 2 or more soldiers to be speaking something other than english infront of another serviveman. The 3rd party may have to take offense. I'm not sure. I do know that english is the spoken and written language in our government.

I saw a show where full-blooded Mayans who didn't speak Spanish were coming across the border and being called "Latinos"!
Most Mexicans could never claim to be Italian descendants or accepted by Latin Europeans as "one of them."