Today, I was talking to my other friend about the Cinco de Mayo Scholarship Pageant that we're both heavily involved in, when another girl, in our biology class, whom I was not even speaking to, interupts me, while I'm talking to Dennis (my friend), and says, "Do you have to speak spanish to be in the Cinco de Mayo Pageant?" & we both replied with, "No." Then she had the audacity to say, "Oh, good because you don't speak spanish very well." I was so offended when my classmate had said this because I've never spoken spanish in front of HER, so why is she acting as if she knows me like that? I am in spanish courses (Pre-AP Span. III to be exact), so yes, I do know un pequito (a little)! However, she wouldn't know how bad or well I speak, unless she'd heard me, which she had NEVER. Another thing that upset me, is that she asked as if you can't be in this pageant, unless you speak spanish. Anyone can be in it, it just so happens to be around the annual "Cinco de Mayo" festival day. People consistantly assume that I speak spanish because I'm latina, but what people don't realize is that you can be latina and not know how to speak spanish. I'm not the only one who's like thatr either. Even at my school I know people like me, such as my best friend Brandon who's the same, & even one of the girls signed up for the pageant as well. People, especially spanish-speaking latinos, look at me as if I'm some alien, or disease because I don't understand them fully. It's just upsetting to have people want you to be like them. I've had some latinos say that I should just learn how to speak spanish. Though I may be doing just that, it's not because I want to be just like every other latino, but for myself. It's just hurtful that they can't appreciate diversity, nor find that maybe some latinos, and even people, are obviously going to be different from one antoher.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I agree It is so sad that people expect you to know how to speak Spanish just because of heritage is. I can also understand wanting to learn to speak Spanish for yourself. When I was in high school I took German because I wanted to learn to speak it. Almost every one of my friends told to take Spanish because it would be easier to pass. I love the sound of the Spanish Langue, but I can not roll my R's so I took German. It had nothing to with the fact that I am part German.
As for the person in your class who made the stupid comment I applaud you for not breaking her face in. Some people should realize that they have two ear and only one month and that would mean to hold your tongue until you have all the facts. Now I could understand wanting to know if you have to speak Spanish in order to be able to be in the Pageant simply just wanting to know it is the comment about you that make her someone that need more practice at listening and not speaking. Thank you for post.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. ~The Preamble