[hispanichoosier]

So it refers more to language than color of skin or country of origin, is that right?

No, I wouldn't say so. I think it refers to ethnic background (which is not the same as skin color) more than anything. I could be wrong, though, since I'm no sociologist.

[normy]

It's just interesting that a person living in Spain could be very white w/ blond hair but speak Spanish and be Hispanic and a person from Arizona could be red skinned with no European blood but speak Spanish and be considered Hispanic and a black guy with mostly African blood from the Dominican and speaks Spanish is Hispanic.

A white man from England who speaks English is English and a white man from Australia who speaks English is Australian and a white man from the US who speaks English is American. A black man from the US who speaks English is American (or black or African-American). A yellow man from Japan who speaks English is American (or Japanese American) A black man from Nigeria who speaks English is Nigerian.

I guess what I am trying to understand is that many Hispanics who are obviously American seem to sympathize or defend the illegals from Mexico. Is the allegiance to Mexico or to the common language? One of my best friends dad is Mexican (American 100%) and his mom Korean (I think dad met mom from army days). He doesn't speak Spanish except the broken Spanish he learned from the guys on his crew. Would he be considered Hispanic by Hispanic guys?