English Only restaurant sign gets owner in trouble

CptStern

CptStern

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Yahoo said:
A civil rights watchdog agency opened an investigation on Monday into a Philadelphia cheese steak restaurant that posted a sign saying "This is America - when ordering, speak English."
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Ironically enough the owner of Geno's, Joey Vento, grandparents were immigrants

Yahoo said:
The sign may violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance, which bans businesses from discriminating on the basis of nationality or ethnicity, Lawton said.

"The complaint will say that the sign discourages patronage by non-English speakers because of their national origin and/or ancestry," Lawton, whose agency enforces the city's anti-discrimination laws, said before the official filing


"I don't see why I should have to. It's freedom of speech," said Vento, 66, who opened the restaurant 40 years ago.

He said no one is refused service and no one is discriminated against. The sign, which has been displayed for about six months, is meant to encourage immigrants to learn English, he said
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:upstare: encourage immigrants? is he joking? I bet this wouldnt be a problem if the sign read "Please Order in English"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060612/us_nm/life_english_dc

the fervor of nationalism is getting to be dangerous
 
Well, for the most part, he's an ass. It's pretty obvious that the entire thing isn't about "helping" immigrants at all. However, I'd say there is an issue here. I just have no idea what the solution is :/
 
CptStern said:
I bet this wouldnt be a problem if the sign read "Please Order in English"
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Agree.
While we're on the subject I do strongly support immigrants being "forced" to speak a nations language. From what i've noticed it actually prevents racism and discrimination later on.
Though in more politically correct ways than what this guy is doing... :S
 
He should be thankful for any business he gets. Even if they couldn't speak the language, they could just point at the menu item that they want at least. Very simple solution really. That way he maximizes his profits and doesn't have to hurt anyone's feelings or break any laws or just be an ass in general.
 
Ironically enough the owner of Geno's, Joey Vento, grandparents were immigrants
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Yeah, and they came here and learned to speak English just like everyone else.

Anyway, Stern, it's not your country, it doesn't affect you, so I don't know what your beef is, and I really don't care.

I guess you expect HIM to learn Spanish so he can serve them?
Right....
 
This is a nation of immigrants. The guy could've just said "Speak English when ordering." The whole "This is America, speak English" is too much.
 
MiccyNarc said:
Yeah, and they came here and learned to speak English just like everyone else.

Anyway, Stern, it's not your country, it doesn't affect you, so I don't know what your beef is, and I really don't care.

I guess you expect HIM to learn Spanish so he can serve them?
Right....
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did you even read the article I bet you didnt ..but you will now
 
Meh, if he can't understand them how can he get their order in?
 
its his business, he doesnt need the government telling him who he can and cannot serve.

"no shirt no shoes no service"

its an outrage! it unfairly discriminates against those who choose not to wear clothes!!!

immigrants need to learn to assimilate. his parents may have been immigrants but at least they bothered to learn english and create a better america instead of a broken and splintered culture.
 
What about tourists who don't speak English?

God knows how many countries I goto and I can't speak their language. I'm glad they don't have signs in their restaurants that say "Please order in Russian". Or wait, maybe they do, only I wouldn't be able to read it :LOL:

But yeah, God forbid you go abroad and the locals don't speak English.
 
kirovman said:
What about tourists who don't speak English?

God knows how many countries I goto and I can't speak their language. I'm glad they don't have signs in their restaurants that say "Please order in Russian". Or wait, maybe they do, only I wouldn't be able to read it :LOL:

But yeah, God forbid you go abroad and the locals don't speak English.
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no one expects someone coming here for a few weeks or whatever to learn the intricacies of english. its the business owners right to deny service based on that reason.
 
The only problem is the "This is America" thing, since there is nothing in America that says you need to speak English. He was an ass to put that up, and I don't see why he did.

There is absolultely nothing wrong with requiring customers to speak English when ordering... its his restaurant and he can make the rules he wants. Its a pain in the ass to not be able to tell what people want just because they aren't speaking English, and if it became a problem I see no reason that a sign that says such a thing is bad.

If someone refuses to learn English, then they can not eat at his restaurant, and I don't see how that is bad in any way.

And if a tourist does not know English, then they should be in some tourist-like area. I would feel very uncomfortable and very guilty if I tried to order food at a foreign restuarant. Obviously they wouldn't be able to read the sign, and it doesn't seem like he would kick a non-English speaking person out if they were accomodating and at least learned how to say "sorry." It is probably meant for the bilingual people who refuse to speak English in the first place...

Even if he kicked tourists out, being an asshole is not against the law.

And apparantly he does not kick anyone out. He just wants them to speak English. What the hell is wrong with that?
 
Funny. The only thing i saw on the news about this was slanted towards making fun of the reaction to the sign and that the sign was perfectly fine.

It's his store, he can choose who he wants to serve. If you don't speak english, you shouldnt assume you'll be served. If I was in a country of a different language, I wouldnt expect to be served in every food place there is.
 
The way he's phrased it is twatty in the extreme, but I think it's fair enough to want people to order in English. If you don't speak the language you'd at least have a phrasebook, and be capable of combining your leet skills at saying 'I have' with your leet skills at reading off the menu.
 
CptStern said:
the fervor of nationalism is getting to be dangerous
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just noticed this. what a stupid thing to say... how is this nationalism?

the united states has no official language... hence it would be illogical to relate this to any kind of national pride issue. the man simply prefers that you use english in his restaurant.
 
Yahoo said:
Geno's will be given up to two weeks to respond and, if the agency determines the sign has violated the city ordinance, will be ordered to take the sign down. If the restaurant refuses, it will be subject to a $300 fine.
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This doesn't make sense to me. What exactly has been violated? The owner has even said that no one has been refused service since the sign has been put up.

People seem to be getting more and more sensitive these days.
 
gh0st said:
the united states has no official language...
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What are all the government documents and mainstream newspapers written in then?
 
I actually agree with ghost to some extent here.

Assimilation is one thing. In regards to immigrants, I have absolutely no wish for them to give up their cultures, their beliefs, whatever. HOWEVER, (while not actually having an official language) America is, for all intents and purposes, English-speaking. Not knowing a word of English is a real hindrance for everyone. So while I disagree with how this guy is going about doing it, it is a free country, and he does have a point.

And in response to Sulkdodds: there's no reason. The Senate could produce a new piece of legislation and word it entirely in Spanish, and I'm willing to bet it'd be completely legal. It's just that no-one would be able to read it :p
 
Do you really have no 'official language'? That's real odd. :p
I mean, for all intents and purposes, you do, but technically, there's none?
 
Madness. You're going to be invaded by immigrants until your culture is slowly eroded and traditional American values disappear and you're all Pakistani. Or...something. :|
 
Sulkdodds said:
Madness. You're going to be invaded by immigrants until your culture is slowly eroded and traditional American values disappear and you're all Pakistani. Or...something. :|
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yeah basically true.
 
I see what he's doing and I don't mind too much, the wording was just stupid though.
 
Sulkdodds said:
Madness. You're going to be invaded by immigrants until your culture is slowly eroded and traditional American values disappear and you're all Pakistani. Or...something. :|
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We lost those decades ago :(
 
Still more polite than:
jules9hc.gif

ENGLISH MOTHER****ER... DO YOU SPEAK IT??!
 
gh0st said:
the united states has no official language...
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Its just taken as common sense here, that 99.9% of the (legal) population speaks english
 
the fine for his actions is only $300, and the community is going to vote if he has to take it down or not. Personally, I hope he gets to keep, its his establishment, I wouldn't get pissed if there were a mexican restaurant that only had menus in spanish, and could only be ordered as such. I just simply would go elsewhere, big freakin' deal.

And offtopic, wolf blitzer just said "counter strike" lol
 
Innervision961 said:
And offtopic, wolf blitzer just said "counter strike" lol
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I didn't think anything of that until he started saying "ROFLCOPTER" and bunnyhopped around the room.
 
It's his store. It's not discriminating based on any of the items listed because it says to order in English only. It doesn't say "If you're Chinese you can't eat here" etc.

It's HIS place, he can put that up if he wants to.
 
I dont get it, surely there's some kind of contradiction here.
Either the sign should read "This is England, speak English"
Or, "This is America, speak American"

The message seems to be "This is country X, I am very proud to be an X-ican. Please speak the language of country Y , whilst on my premises to show your gratitude to country X"

Very strange.
 
SAJ said:
I dont get it, surely there's some kind of contradiction here.
Either the sign should read "This is England, speak English"
Or, "This is America, speak American"

The message seems to be "This is country X, I am very proud to be an X-ican. Please speak the language of country Y , whilst on my premises to show your gratitude to country X"

Very strange.
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American isn't really a language though
 
I have always wondered, why the guys that drafted the US constitution and the first laws didn't make English the official language.
 
15357 said:
I have always wondered, why the guys that drafted the US constitution and the first laws didn't make English the official language.
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I think to convey the message that it was a nation of all people, not just one.
 
It may have also been because of the hatred for Britain, since you know we broke off from them and tried to change a lot of British customs. Maybe they were planning on making an "American" language or something.
 
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