LOL! If Geno was series, he woulda' written the sign in 87 different languages.
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!"
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?
Usually when a "civil rights" organization is involved, it takes the word "probe" literally.
Everybody has "rights" except native born English speaking Americans.
Faces probe? What's there to inquire about? You speak English or you're not served.
Whatever happened to "reserving the right to refuse service to anyone"
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
I think the guy should just put up a sign that says 'Managment Reserves The RIGHT to Refuse Service to Communists, Lawyers, Politicians, and people from France.'
BTTT
English is the INTERNATIONAL Business language. How can they go after one small PRIVATE business in an American city?
Will they uncover the shocking fact that the restaurant uses cheese made in Wisconsin, not in Philadelphia or even in Pennsylvania? Don't touch that dial, folks!
LOL! If Geno was series, he woulda' written the sign in 87 different languages.
When the customer cannot be understood, what should the owners do? Hire bi-lingual speakers to accomodate them?
PHILADELPHIA - June 12, 2006 - The controversy continues to sizzle at Geno's Steaks. But the sign demanding that customers speak English is also apparently good for business.
Joey Vento: "Sometimes we must make the choice between what is right and what is easy. Easy is taking the sign down, being right isn't so easy."..
Joey Vento: "I just don't understand they should back off because the public is in support of me." Vento says that support has come in the form of hundreds of email, faxes, and phone calls - some from as far away as soldiers stationed in Kuwait. Of course there is support here too, in the form of loyal customers. "Everybody else came from other countries and they all learned English didn't they." Gene Adams/Boyton Beach, FL: "I live in a very Hispanic area and I'm for English only."
In fact business was so good Monday. Geno's ran out of rolls. One man is a loyal Geno's customer but Monday found himself forced to go across the street to Pat's... a competitor that has condemned the sign. "It was too crowded over at Geno's because that's where I usually go. The sign doesn't mean anything to me." Vento says he's never refused to serve anyone and never will, but says he shouldn't be refused to say how he feels.
Vento: "How is speaking English racist? How am I discriminating if you don't speak English? The sign means nothing to you because you don' speak the language." Vento says if he gets slapped with a lawsuit he's ready to fight, and tells Action News he's got a team waiting. Although some of the players are considered controversial. Vento says the Minute Men, the group Pro-English and Border Patrol have all offered to provide and pay for his defense. The Commission on human relations never returned our calls.
Both entities(Geno's and the nebby nose civil rights group) are getting what they want most, oodles of free publicity.