Business says "Speak English"....

[Papa Deuce]

a locallly owned business near me has a sign in their window " This is America. Speak English." This is a HUGELY popular business.

It isn't a chain, but independantly owned.

 

[Barb D]

Somehow I can't imagine a store in Paris with a sign (in French, of course) ... "This is France; speak French". They'd be losing a lot of business from American tourists who don't happen to speak fluent French.

 

[rayelias]

It's his business, let him do what he wants.

I'm a Jim's Steaks guy, anyway. Geno's (& Pat's) don't even come close (in my not so humble opinion).

 

[Papa Deuce]

It's his business, let him do what he wants.

I'm a Jim's Steaks guy, anyway. Geno's (& Pat's) don't even come close (in my not so humble opinion).

Well, I don't like any of them... but you know the business.....

 

[JennyMominRI]

Somehow I can't imagine a store in Paris with a sign (in French, of course) ... "This is France; speak French". They'd be losing a lot of business from American tourists who don't happen to speak fluent French.

My first thought was that tourists will see it as a slap in the face

 

[azgal81]

I'm all for that! Wal-mart needs some of those signs too!

 

[paigevz]

I'd be less likely to visit if the business had such a sign. I wouldn't boycott it though, it IS their business, if they want to hang the sign, that's their business, but it would make me uncomfortable, and I don't often visit businesses that make me uncomfortable. How's that for the world's greatest run-on sentence?

I kind of laugh a little at "This is AMERICA speak ENGLISH" as it's a bit of a misnomer. We don't speak American, our citizens' preferred language comes from another country anyway...........so to me, the same sign would make just as much sense if it said "This is America, speak German" or Spanish or Russian or Portuguese or anything else!

 

[MinnieM21]

Somehow I can't imagine a store in Paris with a sign (in French, of course) ... "This is France; speak French". They'd be losing a lot of business from American tourists who don't happen to speak fluent French.

That was exactly my thought. Nice way to make visitors from other countries feel welcomed.
I can't imagine another country having a sign like that. I would feel very intimated if I was visiting, let's say Italy, and I saw a sign that said "This is Italy. Speak Italian." Of course I will try to speak Italian (mine isn't great) but I would be very afraid of messing up and being laughed at if a business had a sign like that. Actually before even walking into the place, I'd feel not welcomed at all and I don't think I'd even go inside.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Of course I am biased as my wife is hispanic. All her family speaks spanish with borderline English.....they are ALL upstanding members of society and pay their taxes just like you and I.

I would boycott....it's not smart business to turn back a dollar! A dollar is a dollar no matter who it comes from.

 

[NMAmy]

Somehow I can't imagine a store in Paris with a sign (in French, of course) ... "This is France; speak French". They'd be losing a lot of business from American tourists who don't happen to speak fluent French.

This was my thought when I read it in the paper this morning. Say goodbye to any international tourists, buddy.

I lived in Germany for a year when my ex was in the military. I was always grateful that so many wonderful Germans took pity on a poor, young person who took French and Spanish in school. I had no idea I'd end up in Germany of all places. It does make me much more compassionate for people who aren't fluent in English.

 

[Papa Deuce]

That was exactly my thought. Nice way to make visitors from other countries feel welcomed......

VERY FEW visitors from other countries would ever see this place. It isn't in a touristy area.

 

[MinnieM21]

VERY FEW visitors from other countries would ever see this place. It isn't in a touristy area.

So those very few don't matter?

 

[Skylarr29]

While I do agree that you should know English in this country I do think it is a poor business decision for the company. I would never want to turn away clientel. Unless the store is in an area that this does not apply to anyone I think it is tacky.

 

[Papa Deuce]

So those very few don't matter?

Not at all to the owner.

 

[JennyMominRI]

VERY FEW visitors from other countries would ever see this place. It isn't in a touristy area.

It's very famous though..I have heard of Geno's East..I have friends from the UK who have heard of it and would like to go.
'

 

[NMAmy]

VERY FEW visitors from other countries would ever see this place. It isn't in a touristy area.

The AP article this morning called it, "one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints." It also said, "Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno's--which together with its chief rival, Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area described as "ground zero for cheesesteaks." Guess I figured that if it was that well known (although I've never heard of it having never been to Philadelphia), some tourists might find it.

I did laugh at the part of the article which said, "Of course, it's not as if native Philadelphians speak the King's English either."

 

[PixieDust32]

Well, I speak more than one language and I agree that in America we speak English.
Now if the business doesn't want our money, just b/c we speak another language fine with me, we can go else where.

 

[Papa Deuce]

The AP article this morning called it, "one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints." It also said, "Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno's--which together with its chief rival, Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area described as "ground zero for cheesesteaks." Guess I figured that if it was that well known (although I've never heard of it having never been to Philadelphia), some tourists might find it.

I did laugh at the part of the article which said, "Of course, it's not as if native Philadelphians speak the King's English either."

Most locals have a favorite of their own that isn't any of the "famous" places.... Also, and I know the area VERY well, it is a tightly knit community that sort of prefers things the way they were.....

BTW, "I" am not sure what "I" think... I'm just the messenger.

I DO BELIEVE that if you live in the US, you should be speaking English in public as soon as you learn how..and you DO NEED to learn it, IMO.

 

[PixieDust32]

Most locals have a favorite of their own that isn't any of the "famous" places.... Also, and I know the area VERY well, it is a tightly knit community that sort of prefers things the way they were.....

BTW, "I" am not sure what "I" think... I'm just the messenger.

I DO BELIEVE that if you live in the US, you should be speaking English in public as soon as you learn how..and you DO NEED to learn it, IMO.

I agree 100%.

 

[notnothin]

This was my thought when I read it in the paper this morning. Say goodbye to any international tourists, buddy.

Geno's is so popular, I don't think he'll be hurting at all if he loses some international tourists.