OK to ask for English to be spoken



We read:

"This is America: WHEN ORDERING `PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH.' And this is also America: If I want to ask customers to order in English, I can.

2 1/2 years after Joe Vento posted his order-in-English signs at his cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia, the city's Commission on Human Relations panel finally got around to saying that's OK. It's his shop.

And it is not like he is saying English only. He's making a simple request. I never, ever got how anyone could be offended. The sign is in English. If you can read the sign, you should be able to order in English. The guy makes cheesesteaks. He likely doesn't have a lot of time trying to decipher orders in 20 different languages.

The AP story said: "The case went to a public hearing, where an attorney for the commission argued that the sign was about intimidation, not political speech. Intimidation? It is a sign. Guess what? There are plenty of other cheesesteak joints in town. It's Philadelphia.

Source

See also here. Previous story from 2006 here


Posted by John Ray.