Restaurant wins challenge over 'speak English' signs

Mark Latimour · #1 03-20-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by news.com.au

Restaurant wins challenge over 'speak English' signs

AUTHORITIES in the US city of Philadelphia have ruled the owner of a local restaurant who placed a sign asking customers to "speak English" had done nothing to violate discrimination rules.

The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ruled yesterday that the Geno's Steaks restaurant could continue to display the sign, which had caused local uproar and fuelled a broader debate about immigration.

The commission said the sign, which read "This is America. When ordering speak English", did not say that non-English speaking diners would be refused service, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

"The bottom line is that I didn't do anything wrong," owner Joey Vento, 68, was quoted as saying.

"It's a good victory."

Vento had argued the complaint against him attempted to infringe on his freedom of speech and refused to remove the sign.

Supporters had rallied behind Vento, portraying him as a victim of a campaign of political correctness.

Despite labelling the commission's action "ridiculous", Vento said he was grateful for the publicity.
"They made me famous throughout the world," Vento told the Inquirer.

"I became a hero. I've got to thank them for that."

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-23109,00.html

Well, I found it amusing!

santucci218 · #2 03-20-2008, 10:36 AM

ha, makes sense to me, but than again...im just a stupid american!

fenderhutz · #3 03-20-2008, 10:39 AM

No Shoes, No Shirt, No English

NO SERVICE!

If he's busy enough to turn away customers, so be it.

SteveC · #4 03-20-2008, 10:42 AM

I have to agree. If you want to come here - legally - and take advantage of what the US has to offer, you can speak English.

hartke20g · #5 03-20-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I have to agree. If you want to come here - legally - and take advantage of what the US has to offer, you can speak English.

+1. i'm not saying learn the entire English language, but be able to get your point across. it's like vacationing in a foreign country with one of those little phrase books. if i'm going on vacation to Germany, i'll take a phrase book and small German/English dictionary. if i'm moving to Germany, i'll take those books along with some for learning the actual language, and i'd find a way to get courses on it as soon as possible. not only is it embarrassing to live in a country where you can't hold a conversation, but it definitely doesn't make things any easier.
yes, the US is usually described as a melting pot, but so are most other large countries, and they all have their official language which they use, just like we do. if i go to Moscow and insist on only speaking in English, i'm gonna have a hard time doing anything.

casualmadness · #6 03-20-2008, 10:52 AM

A pity more Americans don't have this attitude. Makes me wanna make a road trip just to eat there and make sure that guy gets some of my cash.

Bryan316 · #7 03-20-2008, 10:58 AM

My mother came to America in 1972. She learned English with my brother and I watching Sesame Street. I grew up never knowing that my mother didn't know English before I was born, I just thought she spoke kinda funny, not that it was an immigrant accent speaking English. And she gets plenty of compliments from strangers saying she speaks English very well, because she DOES. There's no excuse for other immigrants being unable to learn the language of the land.

If I moved to Germany, you'd bet yer ass I'd start learning German. If I moved to Japan, same deal. England, I'd start calling everyone a punter and say Newcastle is the dog's bollocks.

There's no excuse for immigrants to refuse to learn the language of whatever land they want to live in. Including ours. You don't hear this kinda insane control-freak political correctness over in Europe, if you don't speak their language, they treat you like trash. So start learning the language!!!

buzzbass · #8 03-20-2008, 10:59 AM

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay !

Special Ed - 2002

PSPookie · #9 03-20-2008, 11:01 AM

guy n. cognito · #10 03-20-2008, 11:03 AM

The owner didn't ban non-english customers, but simply requested that patrons order in English. Seems reasonable to me.......

Whenever I travel abroad (including Mexico) I, at least, make an attempt to speak the language to the natives.

PSPookie · #11 03-20-2008, 11:05 AM

En espanol por favor.

PSPookie · #12 03-20-2008, 11:07 AM

Ou francais s'il vous plait.

Fassa Albrecht · #13 03-20-2008, 11:08 AM

I actually kinda agree with the restaurant. As a speaker of several languages and a visitor to a load of different countries I ALWAYS find it a lot easier to speak the native language, even if it's just a handful of phrases. It shows that you want to mix yourself in with the culture and also helps the other person.

Newcastle being a tourist site, I often get asked for help/directions/advice by visiting people and nearly every time they've spoken English to me.

Gard · #14 03-20-2008, 11:12 AM

I ever get to Philly, I'm having lunch there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan316

You don't hear this kinda insane control-freak political correctness over in Europe, if you don't speak their language, they treat you like trash. So start learning the language!!!

Indeed, even as a tourist, you will notice it.

The last time I went to Paris, it was on a gig with a large-ish group (Tito Puente Jr Band). I made it a point to politely ask anyone I contacted if they spoke English, IN FRENCH (i.e. "Pardon, parlez vous English?), and was treated with kindness and respect by everyone, as I was respectful and polite to them. They pretty much all spoke English, but I didn't expect them to, which I feel I shouldn't. There were those in the group that didn't do so, and got pretty much ignored or treated like crap, sometimes by the same people that were nice to me.

BetterBottomEnd · #15 03-20-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

No Shoes, No Shirt, No English

NO SERVICE!

If he's busy enough to turn away customers, so be it.

You must never have been there.

He has more then enough business to turn away customers. His place is a Philly landmark.

jsbass · #16 03-20-2008, 11:19 AM

When you move or go to a new country, you must adapt. Don't expect the country to adapt to YOU.

buzzbass · #17 03-20-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Ou francais s'il vous plait.

Mes havia de' peasta 'es en la cusina

ElMon · #18 03-20-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbass

When you move or go to a new country, you must adapt. Don't expect the country to adapt to YOU.

That's part of the problem, and when I had an opportunity to go to a 'La Raza' rally in LA, I heard them say over and over again how they were going to take over the US and breed the whites and blacks out of the country.

But don't call them racist, because apparently only whites and people who believe this to be a nation of laws can be racist.

Bravo to the shop owner.

**baba** · #19 03-20-2008, 11:28 AM

Geno's Steaks was a borderline national landmark even before this happened. The Philly cheesesteak wars will continue, but this advertising just gave him a leg up.

hbarcat · #20 03-20-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

If he's busy enough to turn away customers, so be it.

Good point. Lots of stores and restaurants cater to customers who don't speak English because .....well, they're paying customers and you lose money by offending them. Depending on where his shop is, he has turned away some potential customers. He's obviously made some kind of cost/benefit analysis of the situation and made his choice and apparently he has enough customers happy with his policy that he doesn't mind losing a few who aren't.