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It's the rebuke that any Spanish speaker is likely to hear at least once: "you're in America, speak English!" Throughout the Hispanic community, it is often seen that simple a Spanish conversation, such as a greeting, draws heated responses from those who consider it a taboo in this nation. What these speakers end up wondering are the reasons for such fiery criticism: why is their form of expression attacked and-dare it be said-even censured?

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The answer lies in what the Spanish language represents to these critics. Throughout the immigration debate, many aspects of Hispanic culture have been deliberately chosen to symbolize the problems behind this issue. It is all too often then that in the nativist mindset of these critics, Spanish becomes dangerously tantamount to "illegal immigrants." It is from trying to demonstrate their opposition to this issue that they virtually condemn the language, stereotyping those who speak it as somehow tied to this issue.

The fact is that a substantial amount of Spanish speakers, young and old, were born here in the United States. Surrounded by the predominant English language, it could have been easy enough to only learn the native tongue. Yet, they also learned Spanish, and more importantly, they continue to practice it, signifying that it's by their choice that they use it as a means of expression.

And language is after all, a form of expression in its own nature. Whether someone uses Arabic, French, Spanish or English to say "I love you," it is granted that the chosen language has an emotional and personal significance to both persons. The manner in which they choose to verbalize that love reflects the value that both individuals see in that particular idiom.

Nonetheless, it's the belief of critics that speaking a language other than English somehow diminishes American values; by preferring any other tongue, the population is not unified in expressing a shared trust in what America stands for, as if implying that it is somehow watered down in the translation. The truth is that speaking Spanish or any other language with the intent of conveying one's vision of the world is a clear enactment of one of the most cherished principles in America-freedom of expression. How can someone possibly be diminishing a core value in this nation while simultaneously enacting it through his/her speech?

What explains then the harsh rebukes of these nativist-minded people? Exactly that, their insulated nature and preference

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