Pa. shop owner backs English-only policy (cheesesteak shop sign was never meant to be offensive)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/14/07 | Bob Lenz - ap

[NormsRevenge]

Joseph Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks in Philadelphia, displays a sign during a recess of a Commission on Human Relations hearing in Philadelphia, Friday, Dec. 14, 2007. The hearing was over alleged violations of the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance by Geno's Steaks for posting signs asking patrons to speak English when ordering. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

[NormsRevenge]

Paul M. Hummer, an attorney for the commission, testified Friday that the sign is not about political speech, but about “intimidation,” and that it suggested business from certain individuals was not wanted.

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Hey Hummer! stuff it! and your commission too!

[Eagles6]

Go Joey!

[USMA '71]

If I were Joey Vento I would close down my shop in Philly and move my business to Montgomery County. Let Philly scratch for the lost tax revenue. What a bunch of idiots. They have tremendous crime problems and this is the $hit that they choose to spend their time on.

[american_ranger]

Paul M. Hummer, an attorney for the commission, testified Friday that the sign is not about political speech, but about “intimidation,” and that it suggested business from certain individuals was not wanted.

Do you know of any business which will turn away a customer's money because of some stupid reason like color, religion, or ethnicity? Not me.

[digger48]

and that it suggested business from certain individuals was not wanted.

And as a businessman, that is his right even IF that was what he intended

How does this differ from a business displaying a "Hillary" poster?

I for one, would just go somewhere else.

[Kolokotronis]

“Camille Zubinsky Charles, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
Faculty Associate Director, Center for Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania”

Figures!

[kinoxi]

The klingon high council is not amused. The owner is to be roasted in the entrails of a kaabaak!

[muawiyah]

Camille Charles is a fascist pig. Let her find a country more to her liking ~ there’s no shortage of them.

[Bernard]

Camille Charles, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, testified that Vento's signs harken back to the "Whites only" postings of the Jim Crow era.

"The signs give a feeling of being unwelcome and being excluded," Charles said.

Only if you can read the sign in English. Otherwise, it could be a speed limit sign.

[NormsRevenge]

Let her find a country more to her liking

yup
There are more than a few on the Dark Continent where she would fit right in and feel right at home.

[OCC]

If those reading the sign understood it (and feel discriminated against), we can assume they are capable of speaking English (or American!)

[muawiyah]

She could go to France or Germany if she wanted, or even Canada. They are all deep into fascist realities.

[archaicoldschool]

OR Deaf Child in Area sign

[ApplegateRanch]

Camille Charles, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, testified that Vento's signs harken back to the "Whites only" postings of the Jim Crow era.

How ignorant!

Immigrants can learn English; non-whites learning to be white is much harder...ask Michael Jackson.

[highpockets]

Camille Charles, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania

Camille not having the ability to run a business or produce a profit makes a tidy income blaming others for things no one cares about.

[Chode]

he should put up a sign that says

"I don't understand your gibberish... so if you want to get what you ask for, make sure it's in ENGLISH!!!"

[freekitty]

We are in America. We speak English. Why is this discriminatory?

[Vom Willemstad K-9]

ping