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This is America, please order in English
Since 2005, a Philadelphia based cheese-steak bistro owner has been defending a signpost in his shop that said: "This is America, please order in English." Not surprisingly, he was taken to court on grounds of discrimination, equating it to derogatory signs like "Whites Only". No ruling has been given yet.I wrote a post earlier about how surprising I found it that people barely speak English in a big, cosmopolitan capital city like Madrid. It triggered a debate over whether it's necessary for big cities (where English isn't the first language) to have basic knowledge of English, or not.
I think it is relative. In non-English speaking metropolises, as long as the tourists put in some effort, lack of basic English may not be an important day-to-day communication hindrance, but it is definitely a disadvantage in the larger scope of things. For example: Madrid is bidding to host the 2016 Olympics -- surely the knowledge of English would play an important role there. How is China tackling that issue for next year's games? Anyway, I digress.
What do you do in an English-speaking country when your customers don't speak English? Do you put up a sign like our friend did? Hmmm, I don't think so -- it's quite an insult. The sign reminded me of when the English ruled India and the "No Indians or Dogs" sign was not uncommon. Couldn't they just be offered picture menus where they could point out what they wanted? Or what about bilingual menus?
There is an online poll on the article asking whether people approve this sign post. At this moment, of the 115,732 people who voted, 92% of them approve. Call me overly sensitive but I'm kinda shocked to see the response.
What do you think? Are signs like that acceptable?
| Yes! | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| ˇSí! |
Filed under: Activism, Food and Drink, North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 30)
Katgal Dec 23rd 2007 2:57PM
My goodness, what a lot of articulate, intelligent people posting here! Where are all the ungrammatical, spelling-challenged, hate-spewing ignoramuses of most message boards?
Many good points made...
America is the only country (to my knowledge) that takes pride in its xenophobia.
Tyler Jan 6th 2008 12:04PM
Japan too.
KCC Dec 23rd 2007 2:58PM
The first step in a failing country is that there is no common bond within itself. English as a language should remain a constant.
vERONICA Dec 23rd 2007 2:57PM
poo ... on any one who thinks it is okay for Abha to be sued. He has the legal right, in his place of business to request the orders be placed in English.
JT Dec 23rd 2007 2:56PM
If this sign is aimed at foreign tourist, it is simply a poor business tactic. My feeling is it is aimed at the millions who live in this country, who use every tax payer funded service available to them, and yet are either too stupid or too arrogant to learn the language of the people who pay their bills.
No doubt, we will hear from the limp dicks who argue that english is not "our" official language. I would ask those who feel this way to read our Constitution and explain why our founding Fathers did not write it in 7 different languages.
English IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN the official language of the United States until half of mexico decided to move her illegally and discovered that making babies paid for by US taxpayers was a much more lucrative activity than learning english and becoming Americans by immigrating legally.
Of course, there will always be spineless Americans who will join the illegals in arguing something as plain and simple as the language of the United States.
I would go out of my way to eat at this true Americans deli.
angelellis2 Dec 23rd 2007 3:40PM
English is the accepted national language in America, but we need to make it the national language. Those who come to our country need to accept that. There is no way that each one of us can learn the language of every country represented by the NUMEROUS nationalities who choose to live in or visit our country. I have no problem in Texas with a Mexican person opening a business here and only speaking Spanish. I will either try to use sign language or some other means to communicate or just not go to his business. I am getting sick and tired of having to "punch 1 if you speak English." Of course I speak English. We didn't have to learn to speak Italian or Dutch or Swedish or French when those immigrants came over here. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Only the numbers. They choose to live here; so please choose to adapt or quit complaining.
Angel
Dena Dec 23rd 2007 3:03PM
In response to Jason (#7) Amercia does have a national language. It is ENGLISH. Congress voted a while back to make it so. (Watch the news, it can be very interesting.) And the owner was not refusing service to anyone. He was only requesting that the customers ORDER in English, not that they had to continue speaking in English during their time in his restaurant.
Of course America is considered a melting pot. But we have gone above and beyond all reason to make people from other countries feel at home. They come here to get away from their home countries for one reason or another. Why shouldn't they learn our language? If they want to adopt our country, they should adopt our language. They think nothing about receiving all the services that we offer to them: ie: food stamps, welfare, workers comp., etc. But they refuse to learn English. What's wrong with this picture?? My grandparents came here from Germany and Austria, and you can bet they were happy to learn English and proud to say they became AMERICANS. They wanted a better life for their family and they got one.
Beto Dec 23rd 2007 3:01PM
This is clear discrimination. America needs alot of growing up to do.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, A Spanish-speaking US territory, I always found it interesting that Americans living there for many years would never make an effort to learn the official language. However, no signs like these would ever show up. There was always respect to the visitor, the customer.
I travel all around the world and see how Americans simply do not try to assimilate the language or customs. Always expecting somebody to answer back in English, criticizing how things are done (and adding to the insult that "this woud not happen in the US"). But you never see this type of attitude anywhere. Not even from the French!
What makes America beautiful is the fact that it has been a melting pot for all races: Asian, Hispanic, European, African. Anybody can make it happen here, even those who are not able to assimilate the language.
Do not forget that all of us, in one way or another, are here, because of somebody who walked through Ellis Island. A someone that did not speak English.
Joe Dec 23rd 2007 2:57PM
While I believe he has a right to put up the sign, it is also the right of potential customers to refuse to do business with him. Let us not forget how we bad mouthed Parisians for making believe they did not speak English when American tourists were in paris. We didn't like it very much.
Althamiel Dec 23rd 2007 2:58PM
I saw a segment on Good Morning America on this. The owner of the stand instructed all of his employees to help anyone who did not speak English pronounce their order. The customers that they interviewed said that they didn't mind the extra wait and most of the customers that didn't speak English well took it in stride too. I think it's just common courtesy, if you visit another country even for a short time you should try to learn the language, even if it just means ordering food in the native language.
CinAZ Dec 23rd 2007 2:57PM
I commend the man for his sign. In a border area, I deal with people from other countries, specifically Mexico, who claim.... in their native tongue.... that they don't understand or cannot speak English. This helps them get their way. I was also ripped off by such a person at a yard sale, because I didn't speak HER language.... so she just shoved the wrong amt of cash at me and walked off with my property.
If you choose to learn another language, by all means, go for it. It's a great advantage. But when you're in a different country, don't be rude and selfish enough to believe that those people should cater to you and learn your language. Afterall, your language is just one of many. If you want to communicate in a "foreign country" learn the language. Here, in the US, that happens to be English. Learn it, or leave. No one will stop you, and no one would be sad to see you leave.
Natalia Dec 23rd 2007 3:03PM
My kids and I were born in the United States. But My Husband and my Father are European. We all feel that there is nothing wrong with what this owner did. For example, what if my Husband whoes english is not that good, but he still speaks enough to get by, goes into a restaurant and orders something in (Serbian). How would they be able to take his order? I feel that this is America, so speak English!
P.T. Dec 23rd 2007 3:48PM
How miserable it must be to wake up every morning and have an axe to grind with 95% of the population. I'm tired of having 5% of the population telling the other what is right and wrong. If you want to live in a joyless, humorless existence more power to ya, just dont suck me in to your personal Black Hole. Maybe all of you joyless folks could live together in your own State--of Depression. Be miserable together- leave me alone. I enjoy my Politically Incorrect life and I think I'm more tolerant to other people than you downers could be. Your beliefs and inane musings are more bigoted than you can imagine! Grow up and deal with your own social inadequacy and and leave the majority of us alone.
cathys0820 Dec 23rd 2007 3:06PM
As an American I absolutely detest having to "wade through" all the foreign languages to get to good old American speech, whether it's ordering at a fast food, using an ATM or "anything" I firmly believe that if you live here and especially if you are wanting welfare, you can D**N well learn to speak the language. I am sick to death of paying higher and higher taxes to cater to those who are too lazy to learn a few words of basic "American English" I also quit patronizing stores and businesses who don't even make an attempt to speak the language of the country in which they live.
Alleh Dec 23rd 2007 3:01PM
What about tourists, travelers, or people who don't quite have a handle on the language?
While I was in Japan the people were very understanding with my... Poor sense of the language.
Besides, if they don't know English, how are they supposed to read the sign to begin with? Also, it's not that difficult to accomodate to most people who don't speak the language. My advise, just sit down and get over it. Just because some people don't speak English doesn't mean it's the end of the world.
RON Dec 23rd 2007 3:03PM
Welcome to America...
SPEAK ENGLISH !!
Kodak Dec 23rd 2007 3:50PM
I also traveled to other countries during my 12 yrs in the U.S. Navy. Most foreign countries that want your business accomidate for english speaking. I don't feel that the owner did anything wrong, He doesn't say don't come in! I think he has the right to print his menus in english only. People who don't read english will get the point and not eat there, maybe it will be at a loss. Economics will win out in the end. Final comment, This is an english speaking country and if your going to migrate here then be an American, learn the language!
Ed Dec 23rd 2007 3:01PM
There is a lot wrong with learning a few new languages, if your doing something with your life you may be too busy to sapend hours learning a language you will never learn. And what language would you suggest we all learn?
Professional students may have time for this I do not and few people would have time to learn a new language.........This America. Not Europe where no one knows what country they are in without a road map
CeCe Dec 23rd 2007 3:13PM
Bottom line is this, as some peole have said, if you want to live here LEGALLY you will learn English to get along. If you sneaked across the border, I don't care what you learn, but I do care that you have no right to be here. Look up the word ILLEGAL! Oh, that's right, you can't speak English so can neither read this or a dictionary. And all you bleeding hearts who think I'm wrong, try living in a border town then talk To me! Been there, done that!!
rperez0513 Dec 23rd 2007 3:05PM
It does offend me. To me it is just another example of hatred for the hispanick population in the USA. I bet the restaurant owner does not have many hispanicks working for him , if he does i will like to know what kind of wages are they gettimg?.
If the restauranter does not want to use any language
other than english is fine to me. But putting the sign up indicate to me he does not want foreigner coming close to his restaurant.
The ironic thing is that usually the people who discriminate foreigners were foreigner themselves.
Ever since the census bureau announced the rapid growth of hispanicks in this country, I noticed how the anti-ilegal alien chants took off. I think many people are feeling a bit unsecure.
Funny how a few months ago a survey was taking of US citizens and the majority opposed giving amnesty to the ilegal aliens, but the majority opossed sending then back.
What people are not told is that there are ilegal aliens from every country on earth, chinese, Irish, Africans, Russians and many other countries, so why the Mexicans are always in the spotlight? and why Canada is not accused of allowing ilegal aliens to cross her border?
Here is another question i have. Since when and where in the permanent residency applications it is mandated that foreign nationals have to become American citizens?. Many foreign nationals that changed their citizenship did so because of opportunities open to them in the government fields such as becoming a policeman, sanitationan, post office or fireman. Not necessarily because they no longer have ties to their former country. Just look a the calendar of parades, Italian American, German, polish, Irish etc parades their seems to be a lot of flags flying other than the US flag.
If people have more compassion toward others what a wonderful world this will be. Jesus said: Come blessed of my father for I was naked and you clothed me, I was in prison and you visit me, I was a foreigner and you received me....etc.
May God bless us all.