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by Sam_in_DC from Virginia

Last Post 196 days, 12 hours Ago


English Only Restaraunt owner in Philly
Dec 17, 2007 | 6:58 AM
Category: News
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PHILADELPHIA - A small sign that asked customers to order in English at a famous cheesesteak shop was never meant to be offensive, the shop's owner testified Friday at a hearing to decide whether the policy was discriminatory. 

Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, defended his policy before the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which filed the discrimination complaint. 

"This country is a melting pot, but what makes it work is the English language," Vento told the commission. "I'm not stupid. I would never put a sign out to hurt my business." 

Vento posted two small signs in October 2005 at his shop in a diverse South Philadelphia neighborhood, telling customers, "This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE 'SPEAK ENGLISH.'" 

Joseph Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks in Philadelphia, displays ...

 He said Friday that he posted the sign because of concerns over the debate on immigration reform and the increasing number of people from the area who could not order in English. 

But he said he also wanted to keep the line moving at his busy store. 

"The case should, without question, be dismissed," Vento attorney Shannon L. Goessling said. "There is a legitimate business purpose for this sign." 

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

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. 

No ruling is expected for at least two months, the three-member panel said. 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 42
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priveye
Dec 17, 2007 | 7:29 AM

The sign clearly states anyone is welcome but just speak English. Obviouly only idiots and people looking for a politically correct cause would be upset.
FishStick read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 8:26 AM

Only in America would we waste time and expense for such a trivial issue. If you have traveled the world at all, you get a better sense of how frivolous this is. We're so worried someone will be offended by a lack of accomodation. What is the problem with declaring English the language of this country?
beagle_buddy read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 8:40 AM

bulls eye "eye"...a case that's driven by the mindset of politically correct practitioners and no doubt we'll find in the shadows an organization who's in the business of promoting issues of ILLEGALS and prompted this whole thing ...their way to force upon us legal citizens their rights as they would like it to be seen...Mr. Vento I suspect is a grateful American who, like more and more these days, wants to express his position on those who have violated our laws and flooded into this nation ...they've reached the point they're emboldened and without shame, even feeling pleased to have "shoved it in our face" and nothing is being done to ship their a=sses out...I'm looking forward to Mr. Vento prevailing but since they're not using their own money my bets are on this commission ruling against him just to make him spend some money to reverse a negative decision...

…look out for the goon squad to sweep down into our communities and make notes for future hearings on who’s displaying things THEY! consider to be in violation of politically correct policy…
Sam_in_DC read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 9:14 AM

He is the grandson of an italian immigrant. He actually made two statements at the hearings that show he is a true American
First he quoted Roosevelt (a statement many of us know and support) "To be an American, you have to be American and nothing else. For if you say you're something else, then you're not a true American," He followed up this statement by saying:"I'm an American of Italian descent," he said. "I'm not an Italian-American."

I have been following this story since it first came out. The fact is he never refused service to anyone. Although hispanics for the most part boycotted his restaraunt due to the sign, he did say that if someone would come in and try to order in Spanish he would simply teach them how to say it in English and have them repeat it.

The majority of us Americans are sick and tired of companies who cater to the non-English speaking hispanics. Here we have a business owner who refuses to do so and you see what happens...
luvmybroom read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 9:25 AM

What a bunch of cry babies these f++++++
b e a n e r s have become ... they want everything their way ... what they hell they think the US is? Burger King?

These blow hard liberals shoud be shot with hot pig fat!
Y3Y3 read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 9:45 AM

I think underneath, we'll find an Illegal Latino who CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, and is too stupid to learn, or too embarrassed to admit he's an idiot.
Gooberpug read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 10:17 AM

When I lived in Italy for two years, we didn't get catered to as we cater to the millions of non English speaking migrants here are. We were expected to learn at least enough of the Italian language to get by on. Funny thing is, if the Italians knew you were trying to communicate to them in THEIR language, they would help you out by speaking to you then in your language. They only wanted you to respect their language and country by showing you wanted to assimilate. That isn't the case here in America. We as the legal citizens are expected to cater to those who want this country to become as their own a Spanish speaking one. I refuse and will do so till the day I die. Welcome to America, now speak English or get the hell out. Kudos to this business owner for standing up for his RIGHTS!
MD_Crab
Dec 17, 2007 | 10:23 AM

Sam_in_DC said:
"The majority of us Americans are sick and tired of companies who cater to the non-English speaking hispanics."

I went to a Lowe's homecenter the other day. The overhead aisle signs are now in English AND Spanish!

That just hit me wrong. So, I don't think I'll shop there as often.
Starrman read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 10:30 AM

Good for you MD_Crab, I second your move on NOT patronizing Lowe's, and will do the same.

I agree totally with the rest of you here. What an utterly TOTAL waste of time, money and resources. If you want to spend the money so bad, how about green carding those non-English speaking AH's, and deporting their illegal arses. Now that would be money well spent!
Sam_in_DC read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 11:00 AM

I agree with the Lowes thing. Not only are their signs in Spanish but when you are in an aisle and press the "Need Help" button, the intercom will announce "Customer needs assistance in the XYZ department" first in English then it is repeated in Spanish.

The problem is, the only choices most of us really have in this area are Home Depot and Lowes. Home Depot is even more supportive of the illegals. Several of their US stores allow day labor sites so that their business customers can get their supplies and their laborers in one stop. They also support LaRaza, the racist group that supports open borders and citizenship to all Hispanics. If I have to choose between the two, I choose Lowes.
Starrman read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 12:43 PM

Sm_in_DC, I do not much care for either of them either. When ever I do shop at Home Cheapo, I take FULL advantage of their "customer survey" at the bottom of their receipt. I slam them with both barrels about their non-English speaking, and lazy clerks, especially the cashiers. I will say that the one closest to me does have some, not many, clerks that go the extra mile to help me. But usually I have to ask, but not always.
Tyheir is a Lowes in Frederick that is still half way decent too. But I have seen it going downhill also.
Y3Y3 read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 1:01 PM

I agree. I can't understand the thick accents the Home Depot cashiers have, but the same goes for their management.
FishStick read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 2:21 PM

I have a funny story to add to this. Being in the Navy, a few years ago I was stationed in beautiful Hawaii. You may remember your neighborhood Sears stores began accommodating spanish speakers during a renovation in about 2002. You know how you look around the store now and see the spanish translation for each area of the store below the english. Strangely enough, the Sears renovation was a national plan, to include Hawaii. The nonsensical thing about that was there are very few spanish speakers there. There's a bit of portuguese there, but that's about as close as it gets. However, no Chinese or Japanese translations, which predominate culturally. However if you've been there you know folks there speak english (even if it may be pidgin).
Y3Y3 read my blog view my photos
Dec 17, 2007 | 2:31 PM

Asians are smart though. they WILL learn a new language. Latinos are obviously too lazy and stupid to learn. This is why it has become so important to put all the signs into spanish - according to the sympathisers.
grandillusion read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 8:19 PM

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.

http://www.ssc.upenn.edu/soc/People/charlescamille.html


Faculty Associate Director,
Center for Africana Studies

---

Well... Camille baby... I get the same feeling at the grocery store whenever I see a sign that says cash only... or when I order food deliver and they tell me no checks... or when I'm at the library and I see a sign that says quiet please...

Yes Camille... Jim Crow is alive and well... I here he's living in Vegas doing shows on the weekend... give me a friggin break.
grandillusion read my blog
Dec 17, 2007 | 8:25 PM

By the way... good on Joe... keep the line moving. Geno's Steaks is world famous. It's been featured on many Food Network shows as well as Dave Attell's Up All Night.

The line is long and the locals order fast. There's a special way to order those steaks even in English... mess it up... and they'll let you know about it.
beagle_buddy read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2007 | 10:53 AM

...a beaut of a counter, "Grand", to the illustrious ASSOCIATE professor ...not exactly a scholarly judgment as much as a personal view ...wonder how this commission panel and she got together...

…pressed to answer I believe this ASSOCIATE professor would have to concede there’s as much merit in your view if not more so then the one she’s puttin’ on it…

...Center for Africana Studies, give me a break!!!
BigSmooov read my blog
Dec 18, 2007 | 12:29 PM

As a man that studied American history through and through, I can't hardly see how someone would see this sign as a flash back to the Jim Crow days.

Someone help me out with this question.

When you are in another country, isn't it important to learn the language?

Help me out here.
glakatosva read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2007 | 1:15 PM

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

First of all. I have never heard of POLITICAL SPEECH. It's called FREE SPEECH JACKASS. One would expect an attorney to know this. He should be disbarred.

Intimidation - Yea it's intimidating if you wear a skirt and sold your balls on eBay.

Paul Hummer AKA Paul "BLOWS" needs an BLEEP whipping.
Gooberpug read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2007 | 1:48 PM

BigSmoov, I lived in Italy and yes it is important. Not just for daily living, but when you are faced with a crisis as well. Not only that, its the PROPER thing to do to show respect to your host country. After all you are living in THEIR country, not your own. It's to bad that though that we are the only nation who seems to think its ok for our laws, traditions and lifestyles to be changed by those coming here. What other country allows such bs to go on?
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