Free Republic

Business is brisk at Geno's Steaks. Supporters and the curious are flocking like pilgrims to see signs at the cheesesteak emporium that read: "This is AMERICA ... WHEN ORDERING, 'SPEAK ENGLISH.' " The small, laminated placards, tucked unobtrusively near the takeout window, have ignited a nationwide firestorm of debate about English, immigration and free speech. And, neighborhood gossip has it, they have done a better job at attracting customers than the store's Las Vegas-style neon lights ever did. (snip) Whether or not Vento accurately understands Latino attitudes on English, his signs have hit a nerve. They have spawned fans, including...

Hurricane Latonya? Hurricane Names Raise a Warning The 2003 hurricane season is here, and that means a whole new list of names such as Larry, Sam and Wanda ready to make tropical-storm history. Although Spanish and French names are included in this year’s lineup, among them Juan and Claudette, which struck Texas last week, popular African American names, like Keisha, Jamal and Deshawn, are nowhere to be found. Some black lawmakers don’t seem to mind, but Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) does. “All racial groups should be represented,” said Lee. The World Meteorological Organization began naming tropical storms after women...