Business says "Speak English"....

[N.Bailey]

My opinion is, it's his private business, thus he/she is able to do whatever they wish. If they're willing to accept the consequences without whining, I don't care. I wouldn't be offended, so I wouldn't boycott, but the business owner should be prepared that others will.

I remember your thread about the hoagie shop refusing to make your hoagie with mayo and I felt the same way. It's their business, but there will be those that walk away and if the owner is okay with that, I have no problem with it.

I feel in both instances it was bad business though. I thought you opened businesses to make money. I guess that's not so anymore.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would support that business for sure! I stoppoed goign t o a local mall around me because I began to think I was shoopping in Mexico!! After ten minutes of them all babbling I couldn't wait to get out of there! I now go 15 minutes in the other direction to another mall that is much better. Though this past week there was a racial assault on a white woman. She was driving in her van with 4 young kids and a black guy through a brick through her windshield. He was mad because he said the mall got "to white"

 

[N.Bailey]

I would support that business for sure! I stoppoed goign t o a local mall around me because I began to think I was shoopping in Mexico!! After ten minutes of them all babbling I couldn't wait to get out of there! I now go 15 minutes in the other direction to another mall that is much better. Though this past week there was a racial assault on a white woman. She was driving in her van with 4 young kids and a black guy through a brick through her windshield. He was mad because he said the mall got "to white"

Therein lies the difference though. It's one thing to expect your employee to speak English, but an entirely different scenario to state guests much too.

Edit: I think it's silly for the business owner to put a sign out there for another reason too. I'd guess that if a person can't speak English, there is a good likelihood that they wouldn't be able to read the sign anyway. That just tosses a whole other ball of wax into the mix. What is the owners reasons for putting such a sign up? Is it simply to incite?

 

[CarolA]

If this is the Philly Steak Guy.... he calls what HE was speaking on TV the other morning English???? That's the pot calling the kettle black! Maybe when he learns to SPEAK ENGLISH then he can demand that others do... until then he should SHUT UP!

(Why do I read these threads... it scares me the amout of bigitory on the DIS.....I wonder what some parents are teaching thier kids "White equals right" SAD!)

 

[kaw1218]

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.
'

It is pretty famous, but they really don't get a whole lot of tourist traffic. I don't really blame him either. Most people around here get upset that you can't understand them. All's he wants is people to try to learn the language of the country that they are living in.

And to comment on the france/french, germany/german thing.... most people I know at least buy a guidebook and try to speak some of the native language..... A few even picked up a lot when living over seas for a short period of time. And last I checked france doesn't offer the drivers test in 27 languages like NY does.

 

[notnothin]

If this is the Philly Steak Guy.... he calls what HE was speaking on TV the other morning English???? That's the pot calling the kettle black! Maybe when he learns to SPEAK ENGLISH then he can demand that others do... until then he should SHUT UP!

lol, you're referring to a local Philly dialect, right?

 

[kaw1218]

Ok talk about double standards..... people are saying that it is OK for these non english speaking people to demand for us to learn their language? Does that mean EVERYONE in France, Germany, Italy, etc has to learn English because americans may chose to live over there?

 

[dcentity2000]

Meh.

If you choose to move to a country with a foreign language, it is polite and logical to at least try to learn said language.

I wouldn't go bonkers if they spoke in their native tongue; I just wouldn't understand them



Rich::

 

[CarolA]

Ok talk about double standards..... people are saying that it is OK for these non english speaking people to demand for us to learn their language? Does that mean EVERYONE in France, Germany, Italy, etc has to learn English because americans may chose to live over there?

The Americans are the ones running around Europe acting all upset because "They don't speak English" (Trust me I have seen them doing it... Getting to France and acting AMAZED that folks don't speak English... Did they bother to even learn HELLO in the local language NO!!! Americans tend to think that "Everyone should be just like us"" Talk about UGLY American!)

 

[Mandabella]

"Wit wiz" is excellent English.

 

[mylilnikita]

It is his business, he can do what he wants. I have travelled to Europe and had my little language books to translate things, I do not expect if I visit a foreign country for them to know or even talk to me in English. I do expect who ever visits or even hangs out here illegally to learn even a little bit of English. Ancestors on my DF's side, American Indian, I was born in Tennessee, both of my parents born and raised here. My DF was stationed in the Azores Islands twice after I was born. We didn't live on base housing, my nanny was Portugese, my little friends were Portuguese so I spoke more Portugese than English. We returned to the USA and I went to Kindergarten, well my teacher told my parents I needed to work on my English and this was in the early 70's. So if I had to learn English with my American background, so should everyone else.

 

[disneyjunkie]

(Why do I read these threads... it scares me the amout of bigitory on the DIS.....I wonder what some parents are teaching thier kids "White equals right" SAD!)

ITA

If it's OK for the owner to put up a speak English sign, would it be alright for him to put up a white's only sign?

 

[kaw1218]

ITA

If it's OK for the owner to put up a speak English sign, would it be alright for him to put up a white's only sign?

What does that have to do with anything?

We are talking about languages... you move to a country that speaks english you learn english.... you move to a country that speaks french... you learn french

 

[notnothin]

What does that have to do with anything?

We are talking about languages... you move to a country that speaks english you learn english.... you move to a country that speaks french... you learn french

Agreed. No reason to play race cards here.

 

[notnothin]

"Wit wiz" is excellent English.

That's at Pat's, not Geno's ....

 

[ckret01]

I would definitely support that business. I feel the same way. When my relatives came over here from Italy they learned how to speak English so whether it was 50 yrs ago or yesterday, if you move to America you should learn to speak English in public.

 

[Papa Deuce]

That's at Pat's, not Geno's ....

And just plain wrong! "Whiz" should NEVER be on a cheesesteak! YUCK!

 

[disneyjunkie]

What does that have to do with anything?

We are talking about languages... you move to a country that speaks english you learn english.... you move to a country that speaks french... you learn french

As long as you're willing and able to pay for a product, why does it matter what language you speak?

 

[notnothin]

And just plain wrong! "Whiz" should NEVER be on a cheesesteak! YUCK!

I couldn't agree more. It makes me a little nauseous every time I think of 'whiz' as a cheesesteak topping.

 

[kaw1218]

As long as you're willing and able to pay for a product, why does it matter what language you speak?

So they can just hand them any item off the menu? Doesn't matter what item it is, because they couldn't tell you if its right or wrong.