Speaking English

[Homer]

Philly is famous for being home of the original cheesesteak. :D

For almost a month Joe Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks has come under fire for putting up a sign that reads: "This Is AMERICA. WHEN ORDERING Please 'SPEAK ENGLISH"

Is it unreasonable to ask that people living in the US be able to speak the national language which happens to be English?

If you haven't read about it here is the story from Yahoo.

Fri Jun 16, 7:35 AM ET

Sub-standard.

"This Is AMERICA. WHEN ORDERING Please 'SPEAK ENGLISH' " Not exactly a warm and friendly greeting. Those small signs at Geno's Steaks, a Philadelphia cheese steak institution, have created a big controversy about free speech, immigration and discrimination.

Owner Joe Vento, 66, believes it's an immigrant's duty to learn English, just as his Italian grandparents did. So he put up the oddly punctuated signs six months ago, sparking worldwide publicity.

This week, the city's Commission on Human Relations charged Geno's with violating anti-discrimination laws through "discouraging patronage by non-English speaking customers."

It's illegal in Philadelphia to refuse service based on national origin, race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. But Geno's hasn't been charged with turning anyone away. Even so, the commission warns that Vento could be fined unless he removes the signs. "They would have to handcuff me and take me out," he told the Associated Press.

The signs are unwelcome mats. But however offensive they may be to some, Vento should be free to post them. To do otherwise is to say that he can't make a simple request, or express a political opinion. Thanks to the First Amendment, he has a right to do both. Vento's business might benefit more from some brotherly love, but if he wants to drive away customers, that's his business.



My opinion on the subject is....

Yes. This is the United States. Our national language is English. Is it unreasonable to expect immigrants to speak English? No, not in my opinion.



If you don't think it should be mandatory, I'd love to know why?

[Libra]

My boyfriend's parents only speak Mandarin.  They raised five, wonderful kids.  One, my fiance, is a successful restraunteur, one is a school teacher, one is an engineer, one is an accountant and the other is an IT tech.  His parents were hardworking members of society who've paid they're taxes.  I live in a place where sometimes you need to know Spanish to get a job.  I honestly don't have a problem with people not knowing English as long as it doesn't interfere with them contributing to society, but I'm probably in the minority. 

[CindyLouWho]

If I could get to Philly (I'm not far from there but I don't drive, lol)  I'd want to go & shake Joe's hand.   I feel he has the right to put up the sign if he wishes.  If people don't like it then just don't go in his shop.  My opinion is if someone wants to live in the USA & be a citizen, then learn the language.  They can always speak their own language in their own home if they want.   :***

[Tara]

This subject could get yucky. I just don't like when I'm buying something and I have to look for the English words on the box, or the English words in the instructions and directions, and push number 1 if you want to hear this in English... It's getting pretty bad.

Tara Out  :pp

[Homer]

This subject could get yucky. I just don't like when I'm buying something and I have to look for the English words on the box, or the English words in the instructions and directions, and push number 1 if you want to hear this in English... It's getting pretty bad.

Tara Out  :pp

I knew when I posted this it had the potential to get yucky but I think we are capable of having a civilized discussion on the matter.

We are all entitled to our opinions. If it gets out of hand I'll cork it.

[Tara]

If it gets out of hand I'll cork YOU.

YAY!!! I can't wait.   :))

[Homer]

If it gets out of hand I'll cork YOU.

YAY!!! I can't wait.   :))

Tara goes to the penalty box for illegal quoting.  :-\

[Lynne]

I agree with  Tara, it is America and we shouldn't have to press 1 for english. The thing that got me going was the immigration day or whatever, where all the immigrants weren't going to work and whatever. They wanted to show us (Americans) that we can't go a day without them. I did. I hardly ever go to a dunkin donuts cuz they can't speak english and can't get my order correct. Most of the places I go to English speaking Americans work, so it is easier for me to do what I need to. I wouldn't hire an illegal immigrant, doesn't matter how cheap I could get one. I was born and raised here and I don't have as many federal things as some immigrants do.... healthcare, I haven't been to the doctor for a physical for 10 years. I have gone to the hosp and doctors for emergency only. Immigrants can come to the US and be treated better than those of us that were born here. Something is definately wrong with that. I am sick of seeing spanish words and this and that, I don't speak spanish, I know some spanish words but I will not have my country taken over by immigrants. Ok I'm stepping off the soap box before I say something to get myself in trouble.

[Libra]

If it gets out of hand I'll cork YOU.

YAY!!! I can't wait.   :))

Ok... That made me gigglespew!

[CindyLouWho]

[Tori]

If I could get to Philly (I'm not far from there but I don't drive, lol)  I'd want to go & shake Joe's hand.   I feel he has the right to put up the sign if he wishes.  If people don't like it then just don't go in his shop.  My opinion is if someone wants to live in the USA & be a citizen, then learn the language.  They can always speak their own language in their own home if they want.   :***

Here I go again ..I fully agree with Homer and Cindy on this topic.

I have many "international" friends. One person I met when he was only 21. He could speak English well enough to carry on a conversation. He wanted to come to US eventually to obtain his Master's degree..if I'm not mistaken there were certain tests he had to take re English proficiency. He did this, did  well, got his Master's and now owns couple of different businesses here in US and yes, of course, he is here legally...and can speak English better than lots of American citizens I know.

[Libra]

If I could get to Philly (I'm not far from there but I don't drive, lol)  I'd want to go & shake Joe's hand.   I feel he has the right to put up the sign if he wishes.  If people don't like it then just don't go in his shop.  My opinion is if someone wants to live in the USA & be a citizen, then learn the language.  They can always speak their own language in their own home if they want.   :***

Here I go again ..I fully agree with Homer and Cindy on this topic.

I have many "international" friends. One person I met when he was only 21. He could speak English well enough to carry on a conversation. He wanted to come to US eventually to obtain his Master's degree..if I'm not mistaken there were certain tests he had to take re English proficiency. He did this, did  well, got his Master's and now owns couple of different businesses here in US and yes, of course, he is here legally...and can speak English better than lots of American citizens I know.

Good point.  I've seen a couple of American born citizens that could handle an English class or two. 

And for the record, our local economy would sink to unknown depths without the Spanish-American community. 

I'm jus' sayin'.

[ClingFree]

I live in an area where we have alot of migrant/seasonal workers. Most of the workers are spanish speaking. We have translators in kindergarten because the children come to school not knowing how to speak English. All the phone centers in our area will only hire you if you are bilingual. Now that Ive been nice ... let me be the a*****e ... I think its a buncha crap that you cannot get a job in the area unless you speak spanish. I think its a buncha crap that the kids spend 2 months in the school not being able to communicate with only ONE person.

I think, not only, that English should be required to vote - It should not be just immigrants. I think anyone registering to vote should have to pass a basic literacy test - verbal or written. So yeah, Im the a*****e.

     ;D


Well chit, ya'll basically said all my stuff, but I thought it out and worked hard so youre gettin it anyways.

[Homer]

We were all immigrants at some point for the most part.

People here illegally should be deported. The system definitely needs to be worked on. There are rules and regulations for getting into the country legally. These rules should be enforced. I have no problem with people on legitimate visas but I also think they should be able to communicate in the national language of English. I have no problem with them being bilingual as long as when needed they are able to communicate in English.

[Tori]

We were all immigrants at some point for the most part.

People here illegally should be deported. The system definitely needs to be worked on. There are rules and regulations for getting into the country legally. These rules should be enforced. I have no problem with people on legitimate visas but I also think they should be able to communicate in the national language of English. I have no problem with them being bilingual as long as when needed they are able to communicate in English.

Amen and Hallelujah 0:  ;)

I have absolutely no problems with legal immigrants..go through the process.

I have several wonderful friends who are here legally with visas. They had to go through the "process" so why shouldn't everyone else? Heck, I love everybody though  <3

[bubblegum]

I love Philly.  So many wonderful memories...Out west they just don't make philly cheesesteaks the way I like.

Anyway as the kid of immigrants I didn't learn English until I started Kindergarten.  But my opinion, for whatever the hell it's worth, I don't think anyone should be allowed to become a citizen without learning English.  I honestly don't give a rat's ass what language you speak, what ethnic background your from or the God you worship.  I'm all for diveresty.  Hubby and I both embrace it.  However, when I place my order at McDonald's, or talk to an employee at any store, I expect to speak to them in English.  I expect you to answer me in English like wise.  I don't want to push one for English, two for Arabic or whatever.

My parents came to the US legally, so did Hubby's parents.  It's not fair to them and anyone else who came here legally to allow the illegally immigrants immunity.   I say screw em, your not here legally, get the hell out.  Go back to where you came from.

I may sound harsh, but that's how I feel.

[Tara]

This probably isn't the best time to tell anyone I was born in Spain is it?  It's not my fault my Dad was in the service and my Mom was working at the club on base and they were doing each other.  >:D

Anyways, when I called Pogo the other day, I had to ask them to please put someone else on the phone that I could understand. I couldn't even understand the help support person on the phone.

[Lynne]

We were all immigrants at some point for the most part.

People here illegally should be deported. The system definitely needs to be worked on. There are rules and regulations for getting into the country legally. These rules should be enforced. I have no problem with people on legitimate visas but I also think they should be able to communicate in the national language of English. I have no problem with them being bilingual as long as when needed they are able to communicate in English.

It's not fair to them and anyone else who came here legally to allow the illegally immigrants immunity.   I say screw em, your not here legally, get the hell out.  Go back to where you came from.

I totally agree with both Homer and Bubbles on this, if you are here illegally get out. Legal immigrants are fine as long as they know how to write and speak english. When I worked at a grocery store you should have seen all the brazilians with wads of money, can't speak or write english trying to send money western union, or other immigrants trying to get their WIC order. They would try getting those new toddler meals things they have instead of infant cereal, or the real exspensive formula when it wasn't on their slip. Then they look at ya like deer in headlights cuz they don't understand you. Its amazing though the illegal immigrants wanting our freedoms and they get it. Hell they can have a kid here and the kid is now an american and would probably get treated better than I would, not having insurance and all. My fiance keeps saying that we should leave the US and come back to get treated better than we do now. <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxmk788YYUS" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_2_205.gif" alt="Soapbox" border="0"></a> Time for someone else to step on the soap box.

[swissmissy63]

I look at it like this: If I went to live in Mexico or China or probably pretty much anywhere I think I would have to learn the language to be able to survive there. I really don't think a whole country would adapt to just me. I would have to adapt to life in a new country and that would include learning the language. So I think those rules should apply to people coming into this country. I think the reason people don't learn english is because we have "Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish, Please see other side for English instructions etc." I think we make it to easy to survive here if you don't know english. . . . . Just my 2 cents worth!

[tigereyes]

I also agree that if you are here illegally you should get out. And for those wanting to move here to the US, they should learn to speak English. My husband is Romanian, and he and his family became legal US citizens when he was 11. His family speaks English, but not as well as I do. My in-laws speak Romanian when they're at home, but my husband speaks in English all the time. Which is a good thing, because I don't understand any Romanian...lol.