Ruling on English-only sign overlooked a key point -- Bethlehem...

How refreshing to witness a rare triumph of common sense over the political correctness police! Two years ago, Geno's Steaks of Philadelposted its sign, ''This is America.

[Andrew]

good point

[WOW]

I will lgo to Geno's the nnext time I am in Philly and spend my money there. That place deserves the support of everyone that agrees with that sign!

[silver surfer]

He shoots, he scores! Great letter!

[Peggy]

I love to travel and I only speak english. I would die of starvation if I had to speak the language of every country that I've visited.

[Abe Lincoln]

Peggy wrote:

I love to travel and I only speak english. I would die of starvation if I had to speak the language of every country that I've visited.

I see what you are saying but if you are a tourist..and dying of hunger and you just can't get a steak at Geno's because you can't order in English, you can turn around, walk 35 yards and get one from Pat's (which are better anyway).

Also rarley to Americans emigrate to another country and leech of of their social programs and refuse to learn the language/respect the culture. I am sure if a tourist from France or lituania were to come to Pat's the guy would be understanding.

Your point makes sense in another context...I think

[Terminator]

Peggy wrote:

I love to travel and I only speak english. I would die of starvation if I had to speak the language of every country that I've visited.

That is interesting, the world is very accommodating. They want to speak English. When I went to Germany I had a shop keeper that could not speak English actually go and find some one that could. Silly me I should have tried to speak German. Oh but I did, my German is not that good but I did make the attempt. You are in the country make the attempt.
No offense to you Peggy, My point is that these people that don't speak English will jot even make an attempt to try.

[Satire]

No puedo leer este blog el .. está allí una versión en Spainish?

[JohnU]

Peggy wrote:

I love to travel and I only speak english. I would die of starvation if I had to speak the language of every country that I've visited.

I totally agree with you Peggy. I travel alot as well and the arrogance that you see from some American travelers is embarrassing. I would bet that alot of these Geno's sign lovers would be the first to complain if a restaurant wouldn't serve them in another country if they didn't speak the language.

[silver surfer]

Satire wrote:

No puedo leer este blog el .. está allí una versión en Spainish?

Sorry, there is no Spanish version. Wake up man, did you just get off of the boat? You're in the US now, here's an English dictionary for you so start studying. Entienda?

[mark]

My grandparent learned English and only spoke his native tongue around those who knew it.
What confusion it would be to have people ordering in 2 or 3 languages at the same time.

[american]

If I went to another country to live I would do everything possible to learn their language. That's the right thing to do! I would also learn their customs and would try not to offend their custom. If I chose to display my American flag...I would make sure that the country's flag I lived in received precedence over mine.

[Kate]

JohnU wrote:

<quoted text>
I totally agree with you Peggy. I travel alot as well and the arrogance that you see from some American travelers is embarrassing. I would bet that alot of these Geno's sign lovers would be the first to complain if a restaurant wouldn't serve them in another country if they didn't speak the language.

Most of there people are not travelers, they are living here...if I was to move to France and live there, I would learn the language.

[just a simple mind]

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

[Trik]

zzzzing!!

[Dennis Mac]

I've traveled throughout Europe, and everywhere I go, English is taught, starting in elementary schools.

English is the international language of commerce, and I've never had any difficulty in a European country.

Even merchants in Morocco, and Egypt speak English.

It helps when I speak a little of their language, in an attempt to meet them half-way. They are delighted!

[LV reader]

Dennis Mac wrote:

I've traveled throughout Europe, and everywhere I go, English is taught, starting in elementary schools.
English is the international language of commerce, and I've never had any difficulty in a European country.
Even merchants in Morocco, and Egypt speak English.
It helps when I speak a little of their language, in an attempt to meet them half-way. They are delighted!

So why doesn't Geno make the effort? Isn't it an arrogant attitude that assume that everyone should speak english?
Sometimes it's so obvious why foreigners are fed up with the poor behavior of Americans.

[Jim]

When I was in the Army in Germany, I overheard a soldier commenting about a shop clerk who could only speak German. "I cant believe he cant speak English... we've been here over 50 years!"
While I agree that immigrants should learn to speak English there will always be a transition period in which they cannot speak it or they speak it with a heavy accent.
While I defend Geno's right to post the sign, I also defend the right of visitors and citizens to speak the language of their choice. Whenever I travel I try to learn the polite phrases of the country to which I am going, and if I am going to stay a while, carry a phrase book or dictionary to help me out. My preference is the "Lonely Planet" books. compact and easy to use. But dont worry, in a few decades, after the world is done using the dollar as its currency of choice, there will be little reason for them to learn english, and we will have little reason to be arrogant.

[pbagosy]

People are making a big deal over this simple, yet helpful sign. It simply says "This is America. When ordering, please speak English." Some people think this is somehow racist or whatever, but in reality, these two sentences are not actually connected and shouldn't be taken as such.

The first sentence is a declaration, explaining to anyone who might be confusing Philadelphia for, say, London, that they are indeed in America. Very helpful.

The second sentence is a polite request that the orderer speak English when ordering. However, ordering in English is a good way to get booted from the line at Geno's, where "ordering" means shouting "wid" or "widout," neither of which are actually English words.

The period between these two sentences indicates a distinct break - the sign doesn't say "Because this is America, speak English when ordering," because this is America and we don't have an official language.

-pb

[Dennis Mac]

LV reader wrote:

<quoted text>
So why doesn't Geno make the effort? Isn't it an arrogant attitude that assume that everyone should speak english?
Sometimes it's so obvious why foreigners are fed up with the poor behavior of Americans.

Maybe he should make the effort, maybe not. From his perspective, this hasn't COST him any business, just the opposite.

The real issue for me is when I walk into a store in the US, and the workers there cannot understand enough English to be effective.

http://youtube.com/watch...

I speak three languages, but English is my native tongue.

[ribz]

good letter. whiz con por favor!