Posted on 06/08/2006 11:47:17 AM PDT by JZelle
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.
An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.
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" - has posted small signs telling customers, "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING `SPEAK ENGLISH.'"
"They don't know how lucky they are. All we're asking them to do is learn the English language," said Geno's owner Joseph Vento, 66. "We're out to help these people, but they've got to help themselves, too."
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.washingtontimes.com ...
Could someone with better skills than me post this picture to the forum ?
http://www.nyu.edu/classes/siva/archives/cheesesteak.jpg
Quand on est à Rome, il faut faire commes les Romans.
Bozo? Okay, I'll play along. Listen, flem-wad. Point out where in my comment that I said anything about what language should, be used. Hint: You can't. I'll spell it out for you in English- Joey's comment made the assumption that all non-English speaking people need help, which even you can deduce, is not true. Got it, bozo?
You all might hate me for this - but I don't think this is a conservative issue. While I believe that all who live in the US should speak English, sometimes I think that bigotry and prejudice might factor in here. I have seen it with my own eyes in New York City, how some Southern Italians don't like Spanish surnamed individuals regardless whether those Spanish surnamed individuals are illegal, legal, residents, citizens, conservative or liberal, Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spaniards, rich, poor... In my case they don't know that I am a "Latino" or "Hispanic" or whatever the current politically correct term is - they think I am Italian like them (my parents fled Cuba) and I hear their prejudice. "Those sp-cs, go back where you came from!" they say.
I have experienced Sicilian on "Latino" prejudice for such a long time. Most of the time the prejudice Italian Americans like in Howard Beach or Bensonhurst are not even conservative or Republicans but long time blue collar union Democrats! My dad was a proud American - he fled Castro, he became a citizen, he was an anti communist too, he voted, he had a business in New York, he was an educated man and he used to get flack from the prejudice types not because he didn't speak English, but because he spoke English with an accent. Sometimes an accent is all it takes to enrage the ignorant. Many people don't like to hear Spanish accents - xenophobia maybe, ignorance definitely. It happened more than once that I experienced guys like in the article making fun or not respecting my dad or mom because they said certain words in English funny. But the prejudice types would get all flustered when one would critique their not so perfect Brooklyn English. double standard.
So while I agree that ENGLISH should be the law of the land, one has to wonder about the real reasons or what really drives his English only rule.
However, the guy in Philly does have some good points - he does hate Mumia and that is OK in my book!
I hope this doesn't get me banned but I am writing from experience.
I'd post it, but I'm a bit sleep deprived right now, and would hate to spend 4 minutes of reading time trying to remember what *should* be second nature.
That said, jf'n k doesn't even know how to HOLD the thing, let alone actually EAT it!
Ha!...No illegals there...But they may all be members of the mob...
You can't tell by looking at a picture! I know a guy who's illegal and he's a white dude from England. People get with the program!
(Truly, I was just joking. We'd joked on other threads. I certainly didn't mean to come off as snippy. Goodness.)
/puts flame retardant suit on
IMHO Geno's has better steaks, too (and I've been to both)
Is there anyone out there that looks like a bigger fool than John Kerry doing just about anything? I swear this guy is the biggest dork I have ever seen.
What ever do you mean? :)
I agree with the previous poster.
It's not only silly but it's stupid from a business point of view.
If your customer has $$$ to pay, then you do all you can to accomodate him regardless.
This entire thing is infantile.
Living in Philly for 10 years had a lot to do w/making me a conservative. I was beginning to lean that way and Rendell drove me so nuts, I wound up actually registering Republican and putting my money where my mouth was.
I applaud this guy, tho I have to admit, I never took to cheese steaks.
ping
LOL!
It hasn't happened to me yet in California.
"I'd rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students."
That's because you can't tell when they're insulting you, dummy!
BTW, this is the TOP news story over at Yahoo. They have their priorities straight, that's for sure.
Exactly. There are an estimated 50,000 illegal Irish in the Metro NYC area. In addition to an estimated 25,000 illegal Italians, nearly 100,000 illegal Polish and well over 150,000 illegals from former Soviets republics in the Metro NYC area.
The guy from Geno's, Joe Vento I think his name is, was just on the Howie Carr show here in New England. He's been on the phone all day doing media interviews. Very positive response...polls on Fox and Philly's Ch 3 are like 85-90 per cent positive.
Joe: "If you don't learn and speak English, you're only gonna be in the welfare line"...He said he doesn't turn any customers away but does stress the English-only policy and if, after it becomes apparent the customer can't speak English,
they'll just give them an "onion wit' " or something...
He says people are passing the hat nationwide in a kind of legal defense fund in case he gets sued...
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