Thread: Philly cheese steak king wins battle over please speak english sign

I agree in principle. I get irritated when I come across a person that has lived in Canada for 20 years and hasn't developed even a basic proficiency in English or French.
The only problem I have with posting those signs comes from dealing with tourists. If I spoke the language of every country I visited, I'd speak French, German, Hungarian, Czech and Italian, in addition to Serbian, English and Spanish that I already speak. If every restaurant in France, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Italy had such signs posted, I'd have left those countries very hungry.

That is exerciseing your rights. I'm glad he won his case though sorry he had to fight it.

Just because Fox doesn't support your individual view points doesn't mean they aren't reporting the truth...

as for the sign, I fully support him.
I'm tired of having to press 1 for english.


He isn't refusing service to anyone, he's just asking you to use a language that he can understand. There are numerous immigrants here in the US who can use and understand english, but refuse to. Watch the video, he says it all when he states" If you can read the sign, you are speaking English, so what's the problem?"

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I agree in principle. I get irritated when I come across a person that has lived in Canada for 20 years and hasn't developed even a basic proficiency in English or French.
The only problem I have with posting those signs comes from dealing with tourists. If I spoke the language of every country I visited, I'd speak French, German, Hungarian, Czech and Italian, in addition to Serbian, English and Spanish that I already speak. If every restaurant in France, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Italy had such signs posted, I'd have left those countries very hungry.

Either hungry or able to order a burger and a beer in six lanuages.

So let me get this straight-a businessman in an large metropolitan city, which encourages tourism and invites people of many different nationalities to visit and sample its local cuisine, wants to discourage business from those folks who are hungry, and who would like to sample a famous local culinary tradition. Gee--what great business acumen! And I'm just certain this practice has nothing whatsoever to do with nativist sentiments. Nothing at all.

Can't you just image how great it would be if other countries refused to deal with tourists who may not be fluent in that county's native language, especially when it pertains to something as extraneous as...food? I know I speak for the vast majority when I say that if I was visiting a foreign country were they don't speak English , I wouldn't want anyone to extend any courtesies to me if I couldn't ask for a hamburger and fries in their language...Right?

Hooorah for him. I thought he would loose for sure. Finally a ruling with some common sense applied.

I have never visited a foreign country that I didn't try to converse in their language. I would never ever expect them to deal with me in my language... that's just plain arrogant. If they happen to know some English and I know some of their language, then so much the better... but who in their right mind would travel to a country without an interpreter if they know absolutely nothing of that countries language?

If the US government insists on spending tax money, I wish they would spend it on tuition assistance for english language classes for immigrants. If the immigrant chooses not to take advantage and learn english, then tough s**t. To do anything else is supporting the US in becoming a multi-language country... hell, they're already printing all government documents in spanish and english. And why just spanish? Doesn't the native languages of the other immigrants count? There are 41 native languages spoken by the varied students in the school district my wife teaches. 41! The schools, by law, have to provide translators for all 41 different languages for parent conferences, etc. if requested. So do the courts, the police, the hospitals, etc. Let me tell you, it's costly... much more costly that providing some aid to language classes. I just don't get why anyone thinks that it's our societal responsibility to speak our immigrants languages instead of asking them to speak ours!

Incidentally, when I am asked to press 1 for english, I press 0 for operator... and then tell them nicely that I am offended by their prompt... that our language is english and if they want to support another language then ask that person to press 1. And if 0 doesn't get me the operator I just wait on the line, and if that doesn't get me the operator, I just hang up. .. and if I hang up they've either lost my business, or they'll call me and then I'll tell them why I couldn't reach them.

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

So let me get this straight-a businessman in an large metropolitan city, which encourages tourism and invites people of many different nationalities to visit and sample its local cuisine, wants to discourage business from those folks who are hungry, and who would like to sample a famous local culinary tradition. Gee--what great business acumen! And I'm just certain this practice has nothing whatsoever to do with nativist sentiments. Nothing at all.

Can't you just image how great it would be if other countries refused to deal with tourists who may not be fluent in that county's native language, especially when it pertains to something as extraneous as...food? I know I speak for the vast majority when I say that if I was visiting a foreign country were they don't speak English , I wouldn't want anyone to extend any courtesies to me if I couldn't ask for a hamburger and fries in their language...Right?

He did not refuse nor has he suggested that he might refuse service to anyone who didn't speak english, he simply stated that when they are extremely busy, and there isn't time to interpret a language they don't understand, you are more likely to get your order messed up.
He said they will do their best with the picture menu he has provided, but English is highly encouraged, as it is the National language.
If you don't speak english, you won't understand the sign, and therefore won't be offended by it.
I personally am offended when I go into Walmart, and see all of the signs are in spanish with english subtitles.

The point of his sign is that america is an english speaking country, and if you're going to stay you need to learn our language. We can't all afford to provide interpretors. If I had to interpret for everybody who wanted a razor honed, I wouldn't be honing razors...
If I decide to order a Livi razor, I'll be responsible for the interpretation.
If I go to france to order razors, be assured I will at least know a few of the basics like how to order food, or find a hotel before I go, and i will find out if they can provide a translator before I go, if not, I will bring one.

This is the USA. Habla ingles o Sal!

Well, the US has never declared a language, so anyone saying you have to speak English is kinda off base...there were a lot of people here long before anyone who spoke English, and I doubt anyone would bother to learn their language. Besides, Vespucci was Italian, Columbus was Latin, and you have to jump ahead another 100 years to find the first English settlers.

That being said, this was a Philly CheeseSteak stand. Not really the most difficult thing to order. I doubt I'd have any problem going into Mexico
and getting a taco. And, as far as it being discrimination, I've gone to several restaurants in NYC where I couldn't read a word on the menu, and it would have to be translated from Italian (which I might be able to fake) or Japanese (which might as well have been Martian). I didn't throw a fit, and neither did the wait staff who had to explain everything to me...so is that any different than a short order place, just 'cause it deals with more traffic? I didn't feel discriminated against, and I doubt a Mexican guy ordering a Steak Con Queso would have either...that, however, might have changed if I went in and I was asked to leave because I didn't speak Italian, or if they just gave me the first thing that came out of the kitchen.

I think this was a non-issue...someone saw it, thought it would be a good thing to be pissed about, and it blew up into an immigration and decency issue. I know full well my expectation of service would be in jeopardy if I went to Italy or France or Spain...and I wouldn't expect them to bend over to accommodate me...but I'd still expect to be fed at a restaurant, even if I had to sound out the words one at a time.

If I went to Mexico and was hungry, I think I could learn to say hamburger & diet coke in Spanish pretty quick.

bj