Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
City panel rules on "Speak English" sign: No hay problema
A couple months ago, Abha brought you the story of a famous cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia which featured a sign that said, "This is America: When Ordering Please Speak English." Interest in that post was, shall we say, robust, generating almost 600 comments.
Now, a Philadelphia city panel has ruled that the sign posted by the owner of Geno's, Joe Vento, was not discriminatory. According to MSNBC, "Commissioners Roxanne E. Covington and Burt Siegel voted to dismiss the complaint, finding that the sign does not communicate that business will be 'refused, withheld or denied.'"
Critics of the sign say that it discouraged certain groups of people from eating at Geno's, as the sign was posted directly above another sign stating, "Management Reserves the Right to Refuse Service."
But Vento said that the sign was never meant to be offensive, and that he never refused serving anyone who couldn't speak English. Though he doesn't deny that, occasionally, his non-English speaking customers would "accidentally" get the wrong order.
Said the triumphant shop owner: "I always believed in my heart I was going to win from the giddyup."
More here.
Filed under: Activism, Food and Drink, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robobagins Mar 21st 2008 1:25PM
Good for him. It's his private business.
Doug Murray Mar 21st 2008 4:58PM
I wouldn't buy a crumb from a xenophobe like Vento.
He's typical of the small-minded and fear-mongering crowd that can't seem to get along with anyone who is the slightest bit different.
I guess it's just easier to blame everything on those pesky immigrants than to take any kind of responsibility for your own life/country.
Funny, Vento doesn't sound like an American Indian last name. Wonder if his parents were once dreaded immigrants?
Non-English speakers should tip off the authorities just in case someone accidentally "violates" the health code at Geno's.
Said the triumphant shop owner: "I always believed in my heart I was going to win from the giddyup."
Said the never-to-be customer of Geno's: You're a jerk.
rrgg Mar 21st 2008 7:32PM
Spain is trying to pass a law requiring ALL IMMIGRANTS to speak Spanish. The irony is killing me.
Tyler Mar 23rd 2008 3:59AM
Here's my take:
http://blog.tylerbell.net/2008/03/22/please-speak-english/