Especially when being interogated by Brazilian Narcotics Officers in broken English and taken to hospital for xrays because they think youre a drug mule. Scary! Guess theyre just trying to do their jobs...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Restaurant wins challenge over 'speak English' signs
- Thread starter Marlat
- Start date
Especially when being interogated by Brazilian Narcotics Officers in broken English and taken to hospital for xrays because they think youre a drug mule. Scary! Guess theyre just trying to do their jobs...
- Dec 20, 2004
- 4,267
- 2,481
- Disclosures
- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
If you want to live in America, then learn the language. I'm not saying that to be ego-centric however. If I were to move to Spain or Mexico... you had better bet I will be learning Spanish and not expecting everyone there to accomodate my ignorance of the local language. End of story IMO.
The problem lies in the fact that there is no official "American" language. By "American" I'm assuming you mean the United States, because geographically speaking there are a lot of different countries and languages spoken in "America" (If you include Canada, Mexico, the countries of central America). Sure English is the dominant language culture, but no one has a legal basis to demand English because it's not set as official. A restaurant can decide to only take orders in English if it wants to because this is a private business and if its customers don't want to eat there, that's their choice. A courtroom however, must provide interpreters, if any of the parties do not speak English.
I still don't see the reason for all this hostility. It looks like we all agree that if you move to a country where the language of the majority is not your mother tongue, it makes sense to adapt. Now what makes you think that other people are so different from you. They think the same way, most likely than not.
I don't think there is too much of an argument there. The argument lies in demanding English as a statement against illegal immigrants, when immigrants that have migrated here legally have just as much a right to speak a language other than English as you or me. So by using this sign as a political statement, it's heavy handed message has isolated a lot of citizens and legal residents.
EDIT: With that said, he still has the right to post the sign.
I ever get to Philly, I'm having lunch there.
Don't. Pat's is across the street, and the steaks are MUCH better...and if it makes you feel any better, they aren't likely to sell you a cheesesteak if you order in anything but English either...and keep in mind that the proprietor's name is OLIVEIRI.
When in Rome...do as the Romans do.
When in Philly, order a "Whiz wit", or get a crappy-ass cheesesteak, dirty looks, or no service at all.
...and tourists, and temporary workers and foreign officials and students and people with accents....
yes, he does. and it should be respected if people choose to order food from there.
In Quebec it's ILLEGAL to have an sign where the english writing is smaller or easier to read than french. An Irish pub downtown was made to take down it's english signs a few weeks ago.
What really pisses me off, is that it's perfectly fine to have a sign in any other language, just not english.
What really pisses me off, is that it's perfectly fine to have a sign in any other language, just not english.
Heh heh, that would be a place to hang a "Speak English" sign. You'd really see the poutine hit the fan.
I'll be down there soon to celebrate.
May not be PC, but it's certainly warranted.
We had the Soup Nazi, bring on the Cheese Steak Nazi, I'll still eat there.
May not be PC, but it's certainly warranted.
We had the Soup Nazi, bring on the Cheese Steak Nazi, I'll still eat there.
This is one of the best threads I've read in a long time! If you can't take the time to learn at least enough English to get by in America, then shut the **** up and quit whining about it when you can't get service. I plan on visiting Japan soon, and you can bet your ass I will be able to order food, ask for directions, and have some decent manners, all in Japanese!
As for Spanish speaking parents, make your kids speak English! Learn with them! Unless you want them to hang out at gas stations waiting to be cheap labor, take the effort to learn something. I know I would if I ever move to a country that spoke a different language!
As for Spanish speaking parents, make your kids speak English! Learn with them! Unless you want them to hang out at gas stations waiting to be cheap labor, take the effort to learn something. I know I would if I ever move to a country that spoke a different language!
