What is Digg?171 Comments
- toastgodsupreme, on 10/12/2007, -5/+58"Juntos, a Hispanic neighborhood organization, said it plans to send people to Geno's to try to order in Spanish and may pursue court action, depending on what happens."
It's a business. They have the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. They are not obligated to conform. If you don't like it, shop somewhere else.
I think it's a perfectly valid requirement. Welcome to America. - WackyT, on 10/12/2007, -7/+53That is a good point. Wonder if you walked into a McDonalds and started ordering in Italian or Russian or Mandarin Chinese if they'd take your order? If restaurants are forced to be multi-lingual, how many languages should they be made to use in order to operate?
- D4RKfantasy, on 10/12/2007, -10/+54I think all citizens should speak English, they dont have to speak it at home, but in public. This is the only country you can get away with NOT speaking the national language, and getting what you want. I cant go to germany and speak Japanese, and then be pissed because they dont "Respect my culture..." They shouldnt have to learn Japanese to accomodate ME, should they?
No one is telling the Immigrant Hispanics to throw away thier culture, they just have to realize that this isnt Mexico, you're an American now, America come First. Its always been and always will be that way. I hope... - tower31, on 10/12/2007, -3/+38Get behind the counter with one hundred people in line and have a person that speaks absolutely no English try to order. Pointing 9 feet from the menu board is far from accurate. When I lived in Germany, if you did not at least try to speak German, they would not help you. It is a sign of respect to the country you are in. That is all....
- bwmiller72, on 10/12/2007, -1/+31Honestly, how hard is it to learn enough English to order a cheesesteak?! :) I know enough of the two languages I've studied to order food in them (German and Japanese). Ordering food requires a very short conversation.
- JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -5/+34My family is a family of immigrants... My dad and all 4 of my mother's grandparents...
We didn't struggle to learn english--- My Dad is from Erdington and my Great grandparents were from Aston.
Look them up.
Pero, Cuando mi familia y yo vivimos en Puerto Rico, espanol era una problema. But we conformed... we learned spanish. I don't think it's too much to ask of immigrants to learn english. - WickedDrag0oN, on 10/12/2007, -16/+40As I do believe all Citizens should speak english Im not sure if I agree with this statement, I hope these guys remember that most New Yorkers imagrated to the US knowing almost no english if at all. I fear for our great nation the futue of what may come.
- TheFightForGood, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26""Yo, gimme a cheesesteak wit, will youse?" ("Wit," or "with," means with fried onions.) To which the counterman might reply: "Youse want fries widdat?""
at genos you cant order a cheesesteak. they'll send you to the end of the line. you order a wizz with or an american with or whatever. also, they wont ask if you want fries. that's at a different window.
Doesnt seem like the person who wrote the artical has actually been to genos. - kevin_qnn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23@nazuraki
"Americans are so ***** spoiled when it comes to this. We, for some reason, think that the world should have to accommodate us."
Aren't people living in america who don't bother to try to learn english expecting others to accomodate them? Also, the reason Europeans are more multilingual than americans is because european countries are alot colser together. - happyfundave, on 10/12/2007, -3/+22Yes it would be nice if Americans as a whole could speak multiple languages (yell at the school systems that wait so long to start teaching language), but the fact of the matter is that most of America, especially outside of major cities, only speaks English.
notice that his family "struggled to learn English" when they immigrated from Sicily, they didn't just assume that only speaking Italian would work. They took the necessary steps, however difficult, to be a productive member of the American economy and integrate themselves into American culture. - maiku00, on 10/12/2007, -4/+23Have you ever BEEN to a mcdonalds? You need to know spanish to even make an order.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23I've met a lot of hispanic immigrants that get really angry if you don't speak Spanish. Not tourists, but people that choose to live here (illegally often enough).
- morcheeba, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19bwmiller - When I visited Japan, I loved the picture menus. I'd point, say "Ichi" (one), and try to learn the japanese for the item. I was surprised to find that Japanese for onion rings is "Onion Rings"!
tower- I agree totally - CaughtThinking, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18As a latino, I have to say, LEARN THE DAMN LANGUAGE. You can't govern a people if they can't understand your laws. If a business cares enough to be multi-lingual, that's fine, but we must standardize around one language that everyone must know.
- D4RKfantasy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17What the hell is that supposed to mean?
- kevin_qnn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15@nazuraki
you're right that being multi-lingual is a very useful skill and that the school systems in america don't do a good job of teaching languages (i dont know about other states but in new york i didnt start taking french class until 7th grade) but that is unrelated to the story. i wouldnt move to france and refuse to learn/speak french. why should people expect to be able to get by in America without speaking english? - TenebrousX, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17@ paco505 - what would we do without technicality nazis such as yourself? It's a bit easier to say America than The United States of America
- kill, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16"There is no national language. Yes, English is the dominant language, but there is no official national language."
You seem to be a bit misinformed, a requirement of citizenship is English fluency. - inboxnews, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15This is an accurate report. I just heard Joe Vento being interviewed by John & Ken on KFI 640 here in Los Angeles. He said "if you don't order properly, we yell at you... If you order "Wiz" (cheese wiz) we give you cheese wiz". He went on to say: "So you better speak English or risk not getting service."
- Scruffydan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15"Wonder if you walked into a McDonalds and started ordering in Italian or Russian or Mandarin Chinese if they'd take your order?"
They should IF the cashier knows any of those languages. I have worked in retail and since I am fluent in English. Spanish and French I routinely use those languages to help my customers understand what I am selling them. Of course no restaurant should be forced to accept orders in non-English (assuming you are in a English speaking country) but to ban it is ridiculous - oneofmanysteves, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Agreed with "TheFightForGood", I live in the Philly/South Jersey area. It is Wiz With, American Wit, etc. at Geno's and Pat's (ordering is quite the same, but the cheesesteaks are slightly different). As soon as I read "Cheesesteak wit", and that other bunch of crap on the end of the phrase I wanted to donkey punch the author of the article. I too think the aurthor has never even been to Philly.
- ponzudigital, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10My favorite bumper sticker:
WELCOME TO AMERICA, NOW LEARN NAVAJO - trooz1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Welcome to ANY country. If I'm in Italy and don't know a scrap of Italian, should I expect a restaurant to take my order in English? No! I better damn well make an effort on my part to learn at least a little bit of Italian if I want to eat! It is my responsibility to adapt to the native language of a country when I move or travel there. Common sense people, the world is not there to adapt to your every need!!!
And court action?! Sure, I'll send someone over to Geno's to order in Japanese. Uh oh, no one can understand their order because none of the workers at Geno's speaks Japanese! Or German, Italian, Spanish, or Klingon! Cause we all know every private business should transcend the language barrier, or else we send in the lawyers. Give me a break! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -9/+18@otherland/kevingnn
Everything you said is true. That doesn't mean that Americans aren't spoiled, whiny ***** or that their feeling that they shouldn't have to learn another language is justified. I live in New York, but I came from Japan. Before I left, when I was 15, in addition to Japanese I had learned English, Mandarin and French.
This had nothing to do with me seeing any real benefit to learning the languages; it was the school system. The American school system does a completely inadequate job of preparing their students for real life.
It's called globalization, and if Americans don't stop being so ***** lazy and stop stewing in an undeserving sense of entitlement, China and India really are going to crush you. - WackyT, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12Hmmm.
"A word about language: menus in many restaurants are bilingual, but some are in French only."
http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/canada/quebec/montreal/restaurant_listings.html - ponzudigital, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Businesses are there to cater to people's needs. If he can't provide, someone else will.
Congratulations to him for abandoning business sense to make a political statement. - tablatronix, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11As if people in philly speak "english". hah
- Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I'll be sure to insist that Parisian restaurants speak english to me when I go there, I bet that goes over well.
- TheNik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@miller - I completely agree.
Ein Brot mit Beer, Bitte. for Germany
Five dalla for sake and tunafishh!!! for Japan :D - adolfojp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7When I was 12 I went to Disney world and a french couple asked me to help them to get food from the menu. They didn't speak English, I didn't speak French. My English was not good either. I helped them order their food and they left their dollars at the cash register and enjoyed their meal. Should have food been denied from them? Whatever happened to civility? What ever happened to hospitality? If I ever decide to visit France I will try to speak in their language but will likely fail. Is it OK for them to decide that my efforts are not good enough and deny me service at their restaurants?
Are we so xenophobic as to not allow a little bit of flexibility to people who want to buy our products and visit our country just because they cannot pronounce the words of the sacred language correctly?
What about mutes? Should we deny them service when they try to communicate with us through gestures?
I am sorry, but this is no different than hanging a sign that says "No Spics, Whites Only" - AmishJedi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7lots and lots of people of asian decent who dont speak a word of english are coming down and buying up loads of houses in northeast philly b/c thyre a lot cheaper then the prices in new york. i dont give a ***** if they dont speak english. but if they hit my car, or need help, and talk to me in chinese or spanish, ill be like "THERES ***** SNAKES ON THIS ***** PLANE."
- jbenson2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Not really a dumb move at all. If you drive by his store any night you will see how busy he is. Money could not buy the publicity he is getting from this strategic decision. And he said he will not turn any customer away if they can't speak English. He is smart enough to know the ACLU will sue him if he refuses to sell to a customer. So he stands up for what he believes is right, has a great low cost marketing program with national coverage, and does not turn away customers. SWEET!
- lochness, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I admire this guy for staking the future of his business on his own racial beliefs.
Good luck to him for putting "them" on the line.
I hope he goes out of business real quick, actually, second thoughts, maybe a slow sad sorrowful demise might be better, give him time to re-asses his values... - nhaas, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7If you dont like the Speak English thing, go to another country....If you want to be here conform. My grandparents came her in the 1910 because of repression. They wanted to become US citizens, the first thing they did was to learn ENGLISH. Most illegals that come here could care less about being a citizen. So why learn English!
- bubbagump, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Great! I wish the establishment was closer to me, I'd definitely buy some of their wares...
I have no problem at all with people speaking a native language in their own homes. But >expecting< businesses to accommodate them while they make no attempt at accommodating the business is simply unacceptable. My great grandparents came here from Germany, and Poland. Both spoke English in their own homes. Both had to learn it, and fully expected their children to.
In fact, my grandmother told me of being punished for speaking polish...
If you want to come here, great. I'm more than welcoming to anyone who comes here legally (that means no midnight runners) AND once you are here, that you assimilate into the culture.
If you don't want to assimilate, and don't want to speak the language, then the country you came from might be more comfortable to you. I suggest you go home. - Murdats, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I often serve people (in australia) who know little or no english, do I spit on them and say learn our language
no.
also @toastgodsupreme
"It's a business. They have the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason"
I dont know what its like in america but here in australia you cant, you cant say, your black we arent serving you, your short we arent serving you, that is discrimination, I would hope it is the same over there that companies arent allowed to openly practice discrimination - Magistrate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"I'd rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students."
HA! That's freakin' hilarious! Anyways, being from Philly, I never liked Geno's anyways. Too much grease. Now I have a reason to tell my friends not to go there either. - TheGuruStud, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11It's about FREAKING time. I'd go and eat there all the time if I lived there just b/c of this.
I don't think he's targeting any tourists. He's targeting all the douche mexicans that won't learn english and want spanish to be everywhere. ***** them.
Now mod me down b/c I don't want a ***** spanish speaking country. - mushoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yeah, China won't/can't crush us because we're knee-deep in debt with them.
- judsond, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This is stupid, I don't even want to read it. Obviously a store can't know every language, but if someone only knows a language you don't why not try and see what they want, you know, they are trying to pay you money. I mean unless you don't want their money... I'm sure the Cheesesteak shop around the corner doesn't care.
McDonalds has picture menus for a reason you know. - Toast1185, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Has anyone ever been to a restaurant over seas? They all speak English among many other languages. McDonald's employees in Spain are multi-lingual, whereas th employees here are barely lingual. It wouldn't kill the Ugly American to learn another language himself, especially if you are in the service industry....
- balloot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Excellent post. This is exactly my thinking. It is simply more efficient to have everyone in the country know the same langauge. They may speak other languages at times if they wish, but they should know English at the very least so they can better assimilate into American society. I don't get why 200 years of immigrants have understood this idea, but Spanish speakers think they are somehow exempt.
- adolfojp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5They learned Apache?
- loudestnoise, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6¡No me digas!
- kipdynamite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If you've actually been to Geno's and Pat's recently one will notice several things -
1) Geno's feels compelled to rub your face in their right-wing rhetoric, regardless of the fact that all you want is a sandwich
2) Pat's for some reason does not feel compelled to do likewise
3) Pat's food is so much better than Geno's - cesclaveria, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"... I feel I would be encouraging the Mexicans to not learn English..."
1) Not all immigrants are from México.
2) Can you explain us how you learning Spanish will encourage anyone into not learning English? - FreydNot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3If the sign is written in english, how are the non english speaking people supposed to get the message?
- axonal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think its the fact the store made a policy regarding language that its causing the uproar, not the fact that people should be required to speak engilsh only. People who think otherwise, make it nearly impossible for a business to operate. You'd have to hire people who spoke every single language of the world. Having employees that speak other languages is advantageous for businesses and helps create a profit. It is also a courtesy to the customers. I'm not advocating that everyone should learn English, but I believe what the problem here in this situation is that the store put a policy into effect, which can offend people. If an employee happened to know another language (lets say German), the most it provides is the increased possibility of a sale, as well as offer a familiar face (or language) to the customer.
Eitherway, most of the problem is solved with numbers, people just order meals by number. Just flash the number by hand. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I spent some time in the Army. Met quite a few people that can barely speak english. Never did figure out the foriegn people in the U.S. Army thing. I know they (or at least my roomate) get paid extra, for being somewhat bi-lingual.
- zafw05, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4In the land of the free, a country created by many nations shouldn't be limited to just one language. I'll just leave it at that.
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