Posted on 06/12/2006 6:46:32 PM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A civil rights watchdog agency opened an investigation on Monday into a Philadelphia cheese steak restaurant that posted a sign saying "This is America - when ordering, speak English."
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations complaint effectively opens a case against Geno's Steaks of South Philadelphia, said Rachel Lawton, acting executive director of the agency.
The Philadelphia controversy has fed a national debate over immigration in which the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would declare English the national language and politicians have raised objections to a Spanish version of the national anthem.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
Yeah, we should all eat tofu and brie.
Posts like yours are a reminder that some FReepers are nothing more than closet liberals.
Sign says "please" speak English! They do not refuse service to anyone. Also, the sign has been there since October!
What about places that have signs saying, "no shoes, no shirt, no service"? Isn't that discrimination ?
I have traveled the World knowing only two sentences of the local language, wherever I happen to be. "I'm sorry, I don't speak (insert local language here), could we please speak English", and "Two more beers, please". In my younger, single days, I also made it my business to know how to say "You look lovely tonight". These stock phrases allowed me to have a good time everywhere except Somalia, where there are simply no good times to be had.
But if I were a foreigner in Philadelphia, I would also make it my business to learn how to say "Gimme one of those Geno's Cheesesteaks and a Coke!"
They know some English words.
Welfare
Food Stamps
Materity Ward in Emergency Ward
Beer
Home Depot
Furthermore, Lawton ordered, Geno's must henceforth be ready to take customer's food orders accurately in any language the customer chooses: French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Italian, Celtic, Arabic, Egyptian, Armenian, Turkish, Chechen, Russian, Portuguese, Ebonics, Navajo, Siouan, Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, International Sign Language, ....
Thier mission, as stated on their website doesn't cover this.
... discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age over 40, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status. and gender identity
Geno's does violate any of these. He's even said on interviews, that if they can order in english, he simply sells them whatever they are pushing.
Exactly what authority does this "Civil Rights Commission" have? When exactly did small business owners lose the right to free expression? Where is the ACLU when (really) you need them?
To Rachel Lawton:
I knew you would waste the taxpayers money and try to persecute Gino's for thought crimes.
Freedom of speech is only for those who parrot the liberal line. Anyone who dares to express politically incorrect ideas will feel the wrath of the Thought Police.
Are you going to require an interpreter for every known language? Force him to acknowledge his sins and shout I LOVE BIG BROTHER?
If he is forced to take the sign down, he should instruct his staff to make whatever they think that they first hear from anyone not speaking English.
Usually when a "civil rights" organization is involved, it takes the word "probe" literally.
"No Pepsi... Coke!"
"'..watch the lefties pull his business license..' "
There would be riots.
So true.
Think: "Iggles" fans in Geno's withdrawal.
Plus - you don't really order in English anyway. All you really say, mumble or slur is: "Wit'", or not.
He's not asking much. The only English you need to know to order at Geno's is "Cheese" and "Cheese With."
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