It's one small sign with eight little words. But it's enough to land a South Philadelphia cheese steak seller in hot water with the city's Human Relations Commission. Geno's steaks claims to serve more than three-quarters of a million cheese steaks each year. But it's the threat that a tasty sandwich might be withheld, that has this South Philly institution feeling the heat. It's all because of a pair of little- 4-inch-by-9 inch- signs that read: This is America- when ordering, please speak English."
15 Dec 2007 @ 03:12 am
17 comments
From cudzuqueen - 16 Jul 2009 @ 02:37 pm
Has anybody else noticed how this Joseph is always resurrecting very dated news?
From conservative1 - 16 Jul 2009 @ 09:19 am
Anytime something like this happens , especially now it's just fueling the right and dividing the country.
From Anonyma - 16 Jul 2009 @ 05:51 am
It may not be good policy for a restaurant owner to ask customers to speak one language -- if the local Chinese restaurant did that, I'd have trouble buying food.
But it's not "discrimination" by any means.
Isn't learning English a requirement for becoming a citizen? Or are these non-English speakers here illegally? Hmmm.....
From joesph22 - 16 Jul 2009 @ 05:46 am
yes you are right. it is due to the political situation which is out of control. i ate it 2 months ago and the food was good, not only but damned good. 000-973 dumps and i think they can speak English. if they cant, they cant read the sign
From Anonyma - 15 Dec 2007 @ 07:56 pm
Geno's is in a traditionally Italian-American neighborhood. If you're I-A, you're okay. They have been able to hold onto their neighborhood in a way that other ethnic groups have not. So I would bet they find it especially aggravating to have a bunch of Latinos suddenly appear on the scene and speaking only Spanish.
From Sick Of Working With Illegals - 15 Dec 2007 @ 04:29 pm
it's a ooopsed sign. christ. the political correctness of this country is out of control. i ate there last summer while visiting my cousin and the food was damned good. and i sure did notice alot of beaners around there too...mostly because it was a hop skip and a jump away from the Phillie DMV...DOT, whatever. either way, why are the dmv's always crawling with beans? ever noticed that? anyway, if they don't speak English, they cant read the sign anyway, correct?
From tiredofit - 15 Dec 2007 @ 02:51 pm
It's his establishment and by law he has a right to serve who he wants. It ain't like you can't go somewhere else to get some food....there's a guy in the Pittsburgh area that has some really great anti-illegal signs...drove by it the last time I visited my kid and went to a hockey game...I about died laughing....
I find it discriminatory that I have to press "1" for English when I call my own government, I find it discriminatory that I must be forced to view spanish babel whenever I shop, I find it discriminatory that illegals have more rights than I do in my own country and most of all I find it discriminatory that I am called a racist because I want our laws enforced to the inth detail.
From ohwellII - 15 Dec 2007 @ 02:15 pm
There is a vote on this.. do it if you can.
I believe it is a political effort to cower folks. It is a sure sign the rest of the political establishment needs a whole sale turning out of office, and something fare more responsive to the ...citizens... of this country.
We need... WE NEED a national ballot iniative sort of ability. Bad too.
From Anonyma - 15 Dec 2007 @ 11:28 am
"But at the Quaker Meeting House, packed with Vento's supporters and detractors, the city's Human Relations commission charged that Vento's "ordering orders" are illegal."
The Quakers whom I knew in Philadelphia were among the most self-righteous, contentious, and controlling people whom I've ever met. Of course, it appears they have their over-educated noses in the middle of this HUGE issue over whether or not a restaurant owner can refuse service to certain customers.
From Andy Schnatz - 15 Dec 2007 @ 10:35 am
In Reply to usatoday: if they order just tell them "I don't speak Spanish" problem solved
From Red-bloodedAmerican - 15 Dec 2007 @ 08:23 am
Oh, my...We have another reverend looking for a little stardom...And, this is the only thing he could find...I guess if you don't speak English how can one even place an order?
From usatoday - 15 Dec 2007 @ 07:22 am
Then any sign on any building IN SPANISH discriminates against all Americans that don't speak spanish
I want my rights !!!!!!!!!!!
From MujadoHunter - 15 Dec 2007 @ 07:00 am
private property .. he can put up any signs he wants ..
From rktkr - 15 Dec 2007 @ 05:54 am
i still see signs everywhere saying "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone".. what makes this an exception?
From LM - 15 Dec 2007 @ 05:34 am
("A ruling from the commission is not expected for a month or so. And even if Vento is ordered to remove his sign, he can appeal that order to Common Pleas Court. In the sizzling hot debate over free speech, immigration and discrimination, call this a "sign of the times."")
Where is his right to free speech. Its his business He should be able to make the rules. How is this the same as (" "Free speech is not the unfiltered license to say whatever you want to say. You can't run into a theater and yell, 'fire.' You cannot stand in the public square and say, 'I'm going to shoot the president.'"") It is not the same thing at all.
From tickedoffchic - 15 Dec 2007 @ 04:17 am
This sign doesn't ban anyone from the business. If they don't like his sign, they don't need to buy his food. Stupid!
From cudzuqueen - 15 Dec 2007 @ 04:12 am
I have no probelm with this request; if I were in a foreign country and wanted to order some dang food, I'd make sure I could effectively communicate what I wanted to order. Intelligent people have no problem learning languages in order to survive in a foreign country. Ooops, did I say intelligent...that's the crux of the matter. Illegals in this country are dirt stupid.
From cudzuqueen - 16 Jul 2009 @ 02:37 pm
