Business says "Speak English"....

[gina2000]

He's perpetuating a stereotype of ignorant, arrogant America. I'd be ashamed of patronizing a place that had a sign like that in it. And it's very sweet that he'll insult his non-English speaking patrons but still will condescend to serve them and take their money.

And I'm a guinea wop Eyetalian. So it doesn't sit well with me to know that he's perpetuating THAT stereotype.


As far as the Canada commentary, I have to be honest with you, we had a very unpleasant set of experiences in both French and British Canada when my husband and I were young. It didn't sit well with me and though I've been back, I've never forgotten it. No nation wants its tourist base to harbor bad memories and not return.

 

[Laura]

I am of the opinion that people that move here should learn to speak and read English, but it's not an easy language and compounded with the lack of education (that many of them have) the task is pretty daunting. I wouldn't patronize a business that put up this kind of sign, but he has the right to do it.

This country will never be a place where everyone acts, thinks, looks or speaks the same. You can learn to adapt and live with the differences or drive yourself crazy wishing for something that will never be.

Well said. I agree.

 

[bubie2.5]

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?

Great post.

 

[Buckalew11]

I heard him tsalk about his decision on one of the morning shows. His opinion comes from his families persoanl experience and he has a point. However, it still doesn't seem right to me. But for a good cheesesteak, this transplanted NJ girl would learn whatever language she neded to so she could order one!

 

[disney4us2002]

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.
'

Are you serious? Papa is in PA and I'm in MD and I've NEVER heard of it and we've been to PA a bazillion times with travel baseball. How the heck did it get known in the UK?

 

[ozarkmom]

He's not refusing service which I see signs everywhere that say we reserve the right to serve anyone. I saw him on t.v. helping people properly order a cheesesteak. It's his business if someone doesn't like the sign go across the street. Oh and by the way according to the poll at the top seems like alot of people share his sentiment.

 

[KirstenB]

It's his business, his rules. He seems to be requiring people to make an effort, not speak perfect English. The immigration situation is a mess. Previous immigrant waves made an effort to assimilate. They knew it was a path to success and a future in America.
At the risk of being called a bigot, I resent immigrants who make no effort to assimilate. It's like they want something for nothing. It's disrespectful to everyone who has made the effort.

 

[rayelias]

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

You are officially banned from South Philly.

For those not in the know, in order for it to be a "Philly" Cheesesteak, there are certain rules...

(1) Amoroso roll. No exceptions.

(2) Fresh, finely chopped sliced meat. Not frozen. No chunks. No slices. Approximately 2 pounds. (You're gonna get something the size of your forearm.)

(3) Acceptable orders: "Whiz", "Whiz Wit" ("Wit" connotes "Wit(h) fried onions")

(4) Alternative toppings still acceptable: raw onions

(5) Borderline acceptable toppings: mushrooms, American cheese, peppers (but you're gonna get stares)

(6) Unacceptable toppings (threats of bodily harm): mayonnaise, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes

(7) Don't order or else all bets are off: Swiss Cheese, a "small", Diet soda, a fork/knife, anything to blot the grease.

(8) Roll up your sleeves, because no matter how hard you try, stuff (meaning a Whiz, grease, onion combo of sludge) is going to run down your arms.

PapaDeuce, you must be REALLY west of Philly if you don't like Whiz on your steaks! West, like, Pittsburgh. You're killing me!

And, NO, NO, NO - Steak 'ums are NOT acceptable - so don't think the stuff you made at home is anything resembling a Philly Cheesesteak. And, for you people out in the mid-west... A steak sandwich is NOT a steak on a roll. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've seen around the country being called a "Philly" cheesesteak.

If you have never had a Cheesesteak IN Philadelphia, believe me, you have NOT had a Philly Cheesesteak. I've never had one outside of Philly that comes close.

 

[N.Bailey]

He's not refusing service which I see signs everywhere that say we reserve the right to serve anyone. I saw him on t.v. helping people properly order a cheesesteak. It's his business if someone doesn't like the sign go across the street. Oh and by the way according to the poll at the top seems like alot of people share his sentiment.

Speaking for myself only, I voted "Great Idea! I would support such a business." I only voted that way because it's his business and being a private business owner, he has the right to do anything he likes, but he will have to live with the consequences no matter what they are. In retrospect, I probably should have voted, " Eh... whatever floats his boat."

As I said back on page 2 though, if you're incapable of speaking English, it's my guess that you're incapable of reading it as well. That brings me to a point where I have to ask, what's his goal? Is it to simply incite?

 

[Papa Deuce]

You are officially banned from South Philly.

For those not in the know, in order for it to be a "Philly" Cheesesteak, there are certain rules...

(1) Amoroso roll. No exceptions.

(2) Fresh, finely chopped sliced meat. Not frozen. No chunks. No slices. Approximately 2 pounds. (You're gonna get something the size of your forearm.)

(3) Acceptable orders: "Whiz", "Whiz Wit" ("Wit" connotes "Wit(h) fried onions")

(4) Alternative toppings still acceptable: raw onions

(5) Borderline acceptable toppings: mushrooms, American cheese, peppers (but you're gonna get stares)

(6) Unacceptable toppings (threats of bodily harm): mayonnaise, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes

(7) Don't order or else all bets are off: Swiss Cheese, a "small", Diet soda, a fork/knife, anything to blot the grease.

(8) Roll up your sleeves, because no matter how hard you try, stuff (meaning a Whiz, grease, onion combo of sludge) is going to run down your arms.

PapaDeuce, you must be REALLY west of Philly if you don't like Whiz on your steaks! West, like, Pittsburgh. You're killing me!

And, NO, NO, NO - Steak 'ums are NOT acceptable - so don't think the stuff you made at home is anything resembling a Philly Cheesesteak. And, for you people out in the mid-west... A steak sandwich is NOT a steak on a roll. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've seen around the country being called a "Philly" cheesesteak.

If you have never had a Cheesesteak IN Philadelphia, believe me, you have NOT had a Philly Cheesesteak. I've never had one outside of Philly that comes close.

Nope... Valley Forge... and my wife grew up in south Philly. We both agree.... NO CHEESE WHIZ! Belccchhh!

 

[ChrisFL]

The united states has no national language.

does the united states have an offical language?

Actually the new immigration bill makes English the official language of the U.S.

I live in Florida, I am American, but more and more often I have to deal with people who don't speak english and don't try. When I worked on a helpdesk, I'd get calls from people who asked if there was a spanish speaker, and then they'd get p.o.'d when I told them there wasn't.

If you come to the U.S. to live, you NEED to learn the language of the land, and in the U.S. that is 90% english...just because there's other people who come here that don't speak english doesn't mean we should bend over backwords to try and understand every language that people want to speak here. Why should I have to learn spanish or french or japanese or every other language?

My best friends are Colombian and they hate the fact that a lot of hispanic people don't want to learn english. They started to learn english before they got to the U.S.

 

[Mandabella]

(8) Roll up your sleeves, because no matter how hard you try, stuff (meaning a Whiz, grease, onion combo of sludge) is going to run down your arms.

There's also the "The Philadelphia Stoop" way of eating of them.

And I'm very familar with South Philly, but I'm with Papa Deuce...I don't care for Whiz. To each their own...


Totally agree on the Amoroso rolls. I used to eat bags of them by themselves as a child...LOVE 'EM!!

 

[MamaLema]

I would boycott for sure. I speak 3 languages fluently. I speak English about 90% of the time. The only time I speak my native language is with my mom (my only living relative) and that's because I want to keep practicing. So now I have to wonder if every time we speak together someone is secretly thinking "speak English" Wonderful.

 

[Charade]

Ok, now I'm OFFICIALLY HUNGRY!! Thanks. But sadly, I'm going to have to settle for fillet mignon for dinner. Oh the horror!

 

[MamaLema]

believe me if you go to french speaking Canada they don't make a point of speaking to you in English unless it is profitable for them and until they are sure you are from USA they won't speak in English if they think you are Canadian. People in other countries know English because it is the language of business and they teach it in school

Geez, do you have to generalize the whole province? That has not been my experience in the 10 or so trips we have done there.

 

[Charade]

So now I have to wonder if every time we speak together someone is secretly thinking "speak English" Wonderful.

No, but if your visiting or living in a foreign land and don't speak the local language, don't be all that shocked when people don't understand what you're saying. It's especially frustrating when people that speak a different language than what's prevalent in the US(english), and have lived there for a relatively long time (years) made little effort to learn the local language.


I suppose the owner should have dual language menus?

(I think he should have made his sign in Spanish though)

 

[notnothin]

No, but if your visiting or living in a foreign land and don't speak the local language, don't be all that shocked when people don't understand what you're saying. It's especially frustrating when people that speak a different language than what's prevalent in the US(english), and have lived there for a relatively long time (years) made little effort to learn the local language.

I suppose the owner should have dual language menus?

(I think he should have made his sign in Spanish though)

On the interview I heard yesterday, he mentioned that he wasn't specifically targetting those speaking Spanish, but rather, those who aren't making an effort to speak English.

 

[rayelias]

Here's something "funny' that he said (either on TV or on a local radio show... I'm getting old; memory's not as good)...

If you don't speak English, you obviously can't read the sign, so how would you be offended?

I guess he's got a point!

 

[N.Bailey]

Here's something "funny' that he said (either on TV or on a local radio show... I'm getting old; memory's not as good)...

If you don't speak English, you obviously can't read the sign, so how would you be offended?

I guess he's got a point!

I've mentioned this point on page 2 and page 5, yet I guess it was overlooked? I'll ask again though, what was his motivation? Was it simply to incite?

 

[rayelias]

I've mentioned this point on page 2 and page 5, yet I guess it was overlooked? I'll ask again though, what was his motivation? Was it simply to incite?

I told you my memory wasn't so good.