Jun 09 2006
Support Geno’s and a small business owner’s rights
Remember the old adage "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"? You should, it's about as common as No Shirts, No Shoes, No Service.
Well in Philly, that is the focal point of contention at Geno's Steaks..
Joseph Vento, pictured to the right is the owner. He has had in his life a study in everything an immigrant should do by nature of his grandparent's example.
His grandparents immigrated to America and struggled to learn English to better assimilate. I can relate. My great Grandfather on one side was born in Norway, and my grandfather on the other I believe was born in Italy.
They, like most people of European heritage, learned the language without question. There were not bilingual classes teaching in Swedish or German.
People used to see learning the language a necessary part of being American.
Joseph agrees, and has a policy at his resturant:
Order in English.
The City Council apparently disagrees:
Want A Cheesesteak? 'Speak English': Debate Breaks Out Over Sign At Philly's Best Known Counter
(AP) A City Council member jumped into the debate over a sign at one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints that reads: "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING 'SPEAK ENGLISH.'"
During the council's meeting Thursday, Councilman Jim Kenney asked Geno's owner Joseph Vento to take the small sign down. The English-only ordering sign has irritated some activists in the diverse neighborhood of South Philadelphia and drawn national attention.
"It's such an iconic institution and business, one that is that visible for many of our residents, for the region and the world," Kenney said.
Vento, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said his staff is glad to help non-native speakers order in English and no one has been turned away because of a language barrier.
"I don't see much of a big deal about learning to say Cheez Whiz," he told ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" on Friday.
His video interview with GMA is here. ABC News has more:
English Only at Famous Philly Cheesesteak Joint
As the debate rages on about whether the national anthem should be performed in languages other than English, there's no question about which language you should use to order your sandwich at one of Philadelphia's most famous cheese steak joints.
"This is America. When ordering speak in English," proclaims the sign at Geno's Steaks. Owner Joe Vento put up in the window of his shop six months ago.
"Your loyalty should be to America and America only," Vento said. "All I did was quote Theodore Roosevelt, 1907."
When immigration reached a record 1,285,000 that year, President Roosevelt said: "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 but for one language here and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality; we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."
In Philadelphia, 2006, Vento said he was referring to the growing Mexican population. There are approximately 20,000 Mexican immigrants in South Philly, and 4.5 percent of Philadelphians are Latino.
Vento, 66, is the product of immigrants himself and he insists he has no ill will toward immigrants. His grandparents arrived from Sicily without speaking a word of English. Vento said they paid the price, and it was not until the second generation, his parents, when to school and learned English, that the family truly realized the American Dream.
"It [school] was strictly English. It wasn't in Italian, there was no choice," Vento said, adding that providing bilingual education and service at stores will ultimately hurt immigrants in the end. "You just might have a bunch of people who are going to be on welfare," he said. "If you don't speak the language, you can never excel."
He raises a good point. I am one of those xenophobic people who sees a national language and identity as a way to draw people to unity. A core set of commonality is, in my belief, essential.
But even if I didn't believe that, I would still support him.
First of all, it is his business and the government is far too controlling about what a small business can or cannot do.
And second? I love cheessteak.
And lest anyone complain he is discriminating, no one has to go hungry for not knowing how to say Cheesesteak or Cheeze Whiz. Geno's has staff ready and willing to help the customers order in english. So this is an educational effort as well. And even then he has this to say:
While some in the Philadelphia community worry Vento's sign might give the City of Brotherly love a bad reputation, Vento says his customers -- even the non-English speakers -- think it's funny. He is quick to point out he has never refused service to anyone who didn't speak the language.
"Here at Geno's no one, and I mean no one, in 40 years has ever been refused service for a language barrier."
He also notes that the second sign about refusing service was there long before the English sign. They were not meant to be connescted.
But the open border protestors don't agree:
"It's really upset a lot of a people," said Brad Baldia, director of development and outreach for Day Without An Immigrant, a coalition of immigrant groups. "For some people, I think we're just going to say 'Le gusta Pat's.'"
Juntos, a neighborhood organization that advocates for Latino communities, said it plans to send people to Geno's to try to order in Spanish. Depending on what happens, the group may pursue court action, said Peter Bloom, the group's director.
"His grandparents encountered the same racism and the same xenophobia," Bloom said. "Why would he begin that process over again?"
In asking for the sign's removal, Councilman Kenney noted that Geno's is "an iconic institution and business, one that is that visible for many of our residents, for the region and the world."
For his part, Vento said he's gotten plenty of criticism and threats: One person told him they hoped one his many neon signs flames out and burns the place down. But he said he plans to hold his ground, even if he loses business: "I'll take the gamble."
Show your support, buy a cheesesteak today. If you dont know where Geno's is, here's the address. Say hi to Joey for me.
Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin
24 Responses to “Support Geno’s and a small business owner’s rights”
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I have seen signs that say "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service"
I also have seen signs that say we have the right to refuse service to ANYONE.
So, with the last sign, if they have the right to refuse service to anyone, then if they do not wish to speak English to order something, then they have the right to refuse service.
I don’t speak spanish, perhaps he does not either, so if you go into a store that I or he owns, and refuse to speak English in your ordering of food, why should we have to be forced to try and understand you?
You come into this Country, the main language of this country has always been English.
Perhaps it is time you begin to learn enough to order Cheeze Whiz…
Personally I don’t care if it is broken English as long as you make the attempt!
"Depending on what happens, the group may pursue court action, said Peter Bloom, the group’s director. "His grandparents encountered the same racism and the same xenophobia," Bloom said. "Why would he begin that process over again?""
No, Mr. Bloom, Joseph Vento’s grandparents did not experience the "racism" of being forced to learn how to speak English. They were lucky enough to be surrounded by people who made sure they learned it.
"Racism" is thinking that native Spanish speakers are so dumb they can’t learn how to say "Cheese Wit’ " when ordering at Geno’s. Bloom’s suggestion that it’s unrealistic to expect new immigrants to learn a few words of English is about as racist as it gets.
I very much agree with Joey Vento,he has been a great neighbor for years. Always with a hand out to help all in need.
It seems the newest businesses opening in our neighborhood are not trying opening to get all the neighbors to shop in their stores.It seems all the signs are in their own language. When our ancestors open their businesses the signs in the windows were in english.Our new neighbors do not want us to shop in there stores,if they did there would be a few signs in our native language.
Just took a pool on CBS3.com a Philly local tv station and it looks like the majority want Joey to leave the sign up 84% to keep the sign 16% against.
This guy has a 9th grade education. How would he feel if they make rules that you can’t operate a business unless you have a High School diploma, just as is required in many jobs. This Policy is ridiculous but not surprising considering his level of education. Bigotry and Rascism still alive in the 2000 century, amazing.
Rather then lamblast his educational credentials, address the issue of whether there is an argument to asking people to actually learn english.
Besides, it’s his business. He can do as he pleases and he has the overwhelming support of people who actually like english as our official language.
Give me a break. Do you think for one minute Mexico or any other country, for that matter, would make its citizens learn a different language to accommodate immigrants. Puhleeze!! This is America and we speak English!!! Either learn it or GO HOME.
YOU GO JOE!!! Please stand up for all of us!!!! I wish I had a business where I could hang the same sign! Yes, we are a "nation of immigrants" but we are a Nation first! America, and we do speak english. If you want to immigrate, (come to another country as a settler) you should be required to take a 6 month course on "Becoming an American" first. If you don’t like it , go home! Why do people want to come here, (to our country) and demand to live like they were there?! (in their country)It is a priveledge to come to America. Everyone knows what they are getting inyo when they ask to come here. If you’re here illegally, you don’t even count! And should have no rights!
For James, I’m assuming you do have an education, (?) which isn’t reflected in your comments. As, "if they make rules that you can’t operate a business…", and owning the business and making rules to operate cannot be compared. Seems as though Joe was working and making money, while you were getting more and more confused by your education. What if we made a rule that after your education, and you can’t think for yourself anymore and have no common sense, you were required to trade places with someone from another country who wanted to be American!
Again, YOU GO JOE AND HUGE THANKS! GOD BLESS
As a medium sized business entity considering moving my ENTIRE MANUFACTURING BASE to Phil. to be closer to my East Coast Clients, I have PUT ON HOLD all future plans until I see how the City Council and other panty waisted "officials" decide regarding Mr. Ventos GOD GIVEN right to entertain his customers IN ANY DAMNED LANGUAGE THAT HE DEEMS APPROPRATE! We had planned on hiring upwards of 200 people locally (oh - jobs…tax revenues….home buyers, etc?), but will NOT patronize ANY city that places restrictions on ANY business relating to language barriers.
Have also ordered a dozen of his sandwiches to be overnighted to me here in Vegas to show my support!
This is AMERICA people…we speak ENGLISH! If you "feel offended and/or discrimated against" - I say IT’S ABOUT TIME you did something about it….get off of your dead asses…..and learn the language of your host country!
You people forget that we as Americans are here illegally. Any History leson will tell you how Amrerica was discovered. Discovered? There were people already here, there was nothing to discover. Now for the most part we are descendants from the English , Irish and other Europeans that came here, stole the land from the Indian, the real Americans, Hence Native American. We see the term as just Indians, but the Native part just tells you who were here first. Juat like any person born here, a native , is a citizen. Learning another language is not the easiest thing to do. How many people here take English in school but only can say "un poquito" or "como se llama" . Americans that live in other countries actually go trhu the SAME thing inmigrants go thru here. We are called stupid Americans cause we can’t speak their language, how would you feel? Americans by the way , globally ,are a minority, but a minority with the biggest ego. it saddens me that people agree with this guy. You people say is his right and that people should learn English, well what about the peoples right NOT to learn it.. No matter how patriotic I am I cannot agree with this man. There have been studies that predict that in 30 or 50 years from now spanish will be so dominant in the US that we might have to add Spanish as a 2nd national language. But I don’t expect you people to understand all this. Hate, rascism and bigotry are alive and well in america. People say this is America, well America was founded by FOREIGNERS AND INMIGRANTS. Come on keep the comments coming, the more I read from you the more I ‘m convinced .
You people forget that we as Americans are here illegally. Any History leson will tell you how Amrerica was discovered. Discovered? There were people already here, there was nothing to discover. Now for the most part we are descendants from the English , Irish and other Europeans that came here, stole the land from the Indian, the real Americans, Hence Native American. We see the term as just Indians, but the Native part just tells you who were here first. Juat like any person born here, a native , is a citizen.
I hear this a lot. I note that the people saying never offer to pack up and move to europe and give america back to the natives. Do you own property? I expect you to deed it over to the Amerinds immdiately.
The fact remains that yes, we did colonize a land that already had indigenous people. And our history is not covered in glory in that regard either.
But while that is a lovely emotional argument, it is totally irelevent. Then we did not invade against a unified government. Here in America we do have a (usually) unified government that has laws and regulations about immigration. I see no reason to scrap that over your pious euro guilt.
Learning another language is not the easiest thing to do. How many people here take English in school but only can say "un poquito" or "como se llama" .
And yet my relatives did just that when they came from Italy and Germany and Norway. Go figure.
Americans that live in other countries actually go trhu the SAME thing inmigrants go thru here. We are called stupid Americans cause we can’t speak their language, how would you feel?
And yet the countries still have an expectation that you should make the attempt. Sure english signs are in some places, but no where near as often as you see Spanish signs here.
Americans by the way , globally ,are a minority, but a minority with the biggest ego.
Irrelevent
it saddens me that people agree with this guy. You people say is his right and that people should learn English, well what about the peoples right NOT to learn it..
Sure they have that right. But where is it required that I must accomondate their spanish (or whatever their native language) here? Why?
No matter how patriotic I am I cannot agree with this man. There have been studies that predict that in 30 or 50 years from now spanish will be so dominant in the US that we might have to add Spanish as a 2nd national language. ’
And I am actually fine with that, if it becomes prevelent. But that is not an argument against ancouraging english as the first one.
But I don’t expect you people to understand all this. Hate, rascism and bigotry are alive and well in america.
This is nothign about hate, racism or bigotry. But I love how often liberals drop the race card.
People say this is America, well America was founded by FOREIGNERS AND INMIGRANTS. Come on keep the comments coming, the more I read from you the more I ‘m convinced .
Sure, keep em coming. Keep them coming legally. And teach them a unifying language when they get here.
Karl you will NEVER understand my point of view…EVER. But I don’t expect you to. I just realized this is a republican leaning page so it is just pointless to argue have a conversation in this forum. And all my comments you dismissed as irrelevant are very much the center of this argument.
I hear this a lot. I note that the people saying never offer to pack up and move to europe and give america back to the natives. Do you own property? I expect you to deed it over to the Amerinds immdiately.
I do but that is not my point my friend…. but if this was the case I would be receiving land not the other way around.
The fact remains that yes, we did colonize a land that already had indigenous people. And our history is not covered in glory in that regard either.
Agreed.
But while that is a lovely emotional argument, it is totally irelevent. Then we did not invade against a unified government. Here in America we do have a (usually) unified government that has laws and regulations about immigration. I see no reason to scrap that over your pious euro guilt
Weak excuse. The Native americans did have their own laws and got killed the same, in the name of god by the way…almost sounds like terrorism (oh boy I opened a can of worms here, just save it). So technically if , like u said, the indians had had a unified goverment with inmigration laws then , hmm, there would be no americans right now. This is almost out of a Time travel movie, what if…..
And yet the countries still have an expectation that you should make the attempt. Sure english signs are in some places, but no where near as often as you see Spanish signs here.
Wrong. Lots of places abroad have bi-lingual messages aimed at American that DO NOT speak the language. So m uch that some countries have adopted englsh words, like parking or mall as their own.
Americans by the way , globally ,are a minority, but a minority with the biggest ego. Irrelevent
Thanks for proving my point. :>)
Sure they have that right. But where is it required that I must accomondate their spanish (or whatever their native language) here? Why?
Why not? Why is so hard to be nice? Because we are all human beings under one god. And because if you were a tourist in another country I am sure you would not like that treatment. Have you ever been abroad to more that one country? Have you learned the language before going there? To every country you visit as a tourist? Doubtful.
And I am actually fine with that, if it becomes prevelent. But that is not an argument against ancouraging english as the first one.
Agreed.
This is nothing about hate, racism or bigotry. But I love how often liberals drop the race card
If it is not then I don’t see the poit in him doing this. Live and let live. And I’m not neccesarily Liberal. See assuming is not a good thing with out knowing. I am angry about this unfair treatment of other people that’s all.
Sure, keep em coming. Keep them coming legally. And teach them a unifying language when they get here.
unifying language? yeah you are proving it right now. This whole thing is very unifying.
Karl you will NEVER understand my point of view…EVER. But I don’t expect you to.
Well that depends on whether we discuss or argue, but that’s another topic.
I just realized this is a republican leaning page so it is just pointless to argue have a conversation in this forum. And all my comments you dismissed as irrelevant are very much the center of this argument.
I have never denied a rightward tendancy. But it depends on the issue. I will never be a lockstep anything.
(i said) I hear this a lot. I note that the people saying never offer to pack up and move to europe and give america back to the natives. Do you own property? I expect you to deed it over to the Amerinds immdiately.
(you replied) I do but that is not my point my friend…. but if this was the case I would be receiving land not the other way around.
Perhaps so, I wont dispute it. Does that colour your argument however?
(i said) The fact remains that yes, we did colonize a land that already had indigenous people. And our history is not covered in glory in that regard either.
(you replied)Agreed.
See? We can agree.
(I said)But while that is a lovely emotional argument, it is totally irelevent. Then we did not invade against a unified government. Here in America we do have a (usually) unified government that has laws and regulations about immigration. I see no reason to scrap that over your pious euro guilt
(you reply) Weak excuse. The Native americans did have their own laws and got killed the same, in the name of god by the way…
Not always. They were killed in the name of progrss which to me is worse. Lets not muddle it with religion. And the natives were not unified, far from it. Natives killed and enslaved each other long before we came. And that is also irrelevent.
almost sounds like terrorism (oh boy I opened a can of worms here, just save it). So technically if , like u said, the indians had had a unified goverment with inmigration laws then , hmm, there would be no americans right now. This is almost out of a Time travel movie, what if…..
That book plot has been heavily used int he sci fi market. A friend (who is Native) said he read that had europe waited one generation later, the natives might have repelled them. Who can say for sure. But in the context of Geno’s, it isnt relevent. Lets move back to the here and now.
(i said) And yet the countries still have an expectation that you should make the attempt. Sure english signs are in some places, but no where near as often as you see Spanish signs here.
(your reply)Wrong. Lots of places abroad have bi-lingual messages aimed at American that DO NOT speak the language. So m uch that some countries have adopted englsh words, like parking or mall as their own.
A big difference is the fact that those signs are not inteded to make it easier to immigrate and assimilate, they are designed for tourism and accessiblity for visitors more then immigration. The signage and bilingualism in spanish here is designed to ease the lives of immigrants, not tourists.
Otherwise we would have the signs in many languages, not primarily spanish.
Sure they have that right. But where is it required that I must accomondate their spanish (or whatever their native language) here? Why?
Why not?
Thanks for not answering my question. My question stands. Why should I not expect immigrants to assimilate?
Why is so hard to be nice?
What has nice to do with it? but lets play devils advocate. Assume the signs are ok. What has that to do with learning english before getting citizenship?
Because we are all human beings under one god. And because if you were a tourist in another country I am sure you would not like that treatment.
Objection- we are not dealing with tourism. And remember that things like signs for tourists are not about nice, they are about money.
Have you ever been abroad to more that one country? Have you learned the language before going there? To every country you visit as a tourist? Doubtful.
If I should make plans to immigrate to another country I will absolutely expect to have to learn the local language. And in most countries, that is the expectation for a resident.
If I ever visit one, you can bet i will attempt to learn what I can of the language just to avoid the typical rude american expectation that they all speak english there. I spent 8 weeks in Tononto a few years back. I didnt have to learn another language, though I did try to respect local dialect (eh, Tim Horton’s etc..). But had it been a more french leaning Province I would have tried to learn basics in french as well. Why? Because I am a visitor there and it is my way of respecting my hosts.
When I went to Hawaii I tried to order or speak in Hawaiian anytime i could. I got a lot smiles from the natives there, and that was still techncially in america. Why? Because I showed them respect.
I guess I just see it differently.
And I am actually fine with that, if it becomes prevelent. But that is not an argument against ancouraging english as the first one.
Agreed.
Thats twice now….
(i said)This is nothing about hate, racism or bigotry. But I love how often liberals drop the race card
(you replied)If it is not then I don’t see the poit in him doing this.
It is his stand at nationalism and patriotism. Nationalism is not racism.
Live and let live.
Yep, So Joey should be able to make his point as he feels.
And I’m not neccesarily Liberal. See assuming is not a good thing with out knowing. I am angry about this unfair treatment of other people that’s all.
I was directing that to liberals in general, who have openly dropped the race card on this. It was not intended to be against you specifically. Mea Culpa.
But I fail to see how this is unfair to anyone. As he has never refused service, it is moot. He takes the time to teach them. He is not racist or discriminary. He would have had to teach me the right way to order the same way, since i dont know the "lingo".
(me) Sure, keep em coming. Keep them coming legally. And teach them a unifying language when they get here.
( You) unifying language? yeah you are proving it right now. This whole thing is very unifying.
It should be if we had the balls as a country to say this is our language. Instead we live in a feel good society and try to not offend the people who often dont even have the decency to come here legally, and yet demand we accomondate them, provide services and extend them rights and courtesies.
Where Illegals are concerned, all I owe them are a bus ride home, and 3 hots and a cot while they wait for the bus to gas up.
Where legal immigrants are concerned, we owe them respect for their native culture, but if they want to obtain full citizenship, I see nothing racist or bad in also expecting them to make some attempt to be a part of our culture. And that does at some point entail learing the language, to the best of their ability. All those europeans did a few generations ago, why can’t they now?
<I don’t have the time or the right mood to write a lenghty email but….U have valid points i gotta admit.>
<And even though I am not arguing anything you said about inmigration and I understand what you say, his sign might not be aimed at tourist but ….the tourist does not know that. And we have no way to know if someone is a tourist by just looking at them (unless they have cameras and that touristy look in their face) so…. anyone , even the people that speak english fluently will be offended by it. There is no disclaimer in his sign that reads "except tourist". It is a general sign for anyone that reads it. Also the older you get the harder it is to learn another language. if you have someone that entered the country legally, that is lets say 45 or 50 or 60. They are gonna have a hard time learning the language, they should not be penalized because of this. We are talking about a sandwich joint here. Also just because someone is here illegally does not make u a bad person or a criminal. And that is the way this all sounds to me. I dated a girl fro Spain once, great gal, sweet , smart, loked like Katie Couric. She overstayed her residence here by 2 years, technically she was here illegally. She worked, she went to school and she had a normal life until she decided to move back. And no, she did not receive any US aid or benefits. We are too quickly to assume, oh he is here a illegally she must be a criminal. We have different points of view my friend, I am from PR born a citizen ( think Hawwaii, we are not a State but a Commonwealth of the US, kinda of like MA were I live) , learned English somehow, don’t ask me how cause I have no clue, was it the DC/MARVEL comic books that I read in English, was it the Rock/Heavy Metal I grew to love? Maiden, Priest, metallica. Was it the fact I turned up a musician? Who knows.>
< Another thing just becasue I have Long hair and play drums in a rock band people treat me differently. And I tell you something. If I am at a rock club with a hat on and my hair pulled back I get treated one way (cause I look more latino), the moment I go onstage with my rock band and get off the stage, looking much the rock star, I get treated completly different , and that my friend is BS. I never go to a show looking like a rock whatever. I go , lets say incognito, i don’t want people to even know I am in the band. And I do this on purpose, been doing it for years. And I always treat the people that are cool to me in my "disguised" way with more respect than the person that comes over after saying somenthing like " dude u guys rocked I saw u earlier but didn’t think you were in theband" BS i say to this.>
<Anyway.. Still ,even thought that sign does not apply to me, it does offend me and does make me sad. Kudos to the guy accross from him, though he using it for his own gain, will serve anyone regardless. Back when my grandfather was a Green Berett in the US Army he could barely speak english, if at all, but the Army still enlisted him when the War broke and he still made Sgt and yes he eventually learned the language. imagine the Police taking this policy, or hospitals turning people away cause they could not speak the language. I just don’t think it is necessary. I read somewhere he was complaining that his Italian neighborhood was turning into mexicans and so forth. My question is, would he serve food at someone from his neighborhood that ordered in italian.? I will risk saying he would (of course he would do it on the down low). though I am just assuming, which I hate Everyday that passes we are turning into a country that complaints and complaints. Everyday there is a new Activist organization Againts …fill in the blank.>
<Personally I am tired of that.>
< Anyway i wrote more than I thought I would, maybe i should start my own blog.>
take care.
PS you said
I see nothing racist or bad in also expecting them to make some attempt to be a part of our culture.
which? we are a melting pot?
My wife and I just watched the interview on Fox News with Joseph Vento. All we can say is hurrah for you Joe, for having the courage to say and do what millions of Americans would like to say and do. Joe is 100% right on, and if he was running for political office I would vote for him!
How did America get into this mess with these illegal immagrants? It seems to have happened overnight. First we become a bilingual nation, (who voted for that?), next our border patrol officers are put in prison for doing their jobs, and now our businesses are accepting Mexican pesos instead of US currency. We should all be asking, what’s next????
I think Joe Vento is speaking for millions of legal Americans. Way to go Joe!
Tony Fiore
Give them Hell Joe, I live in Florida and wow is it a huge problem down here. For all of you that think this is oh so racist come down to Florida and live for awhile and see how soon you change your minds. Its simple become an American be proud of the country and speak English. For all you haters out there remember to become a US citizen you are required to have the ability to read, write, speak, and understand simple words and phrases in English. Now lets all Eat at Joe’s place and order a cheese steak in English. Joe’s just one dam proud American doing his part to keep this country what it is.
Seriously, this is America. The language has always been English. Don’t come in here and expect us to understand you if you can’t speak the language. The Declaration, Consitution, your civic exams for citizenship…all in English. If I moved to a non English speaking country, I would make the effort to learn the language.
From what I’ve seen here is that people are debating over whether a man who built his own business will be forced to open that business up to anyone who wants to come in. Where does it stop? I’m not sure I understand the problem here. It’s HIS business, right? It isn’t funded by the US or any arm thereof. As a matter of fact, it SUPPORTS the government. So where’s the problem? If he doesn’t want to serve people who can’t/won’t/don’t speak English, isn’t it his right? And if the consequences of his action are that bis business drops off radically, then he must be prepared to suffer THOSE consequences - business decision, business consequences. What I don’t understand is what gives people the right to demand that he serve them when they won’t speak English.
One more time: It’s HIS business, not theirs. The only “right” they have is to go elsewhere.
Just like when I can’t afford something at a high-end store, I go elsewhere to get a substitute that I can afford. Or maybe I should sue L.L. Bean on the grounds of not catering to the “income challenged”?
What an amazing story. I wish I lived in Philly so I could give this man my business. The sad part of this is all the people who have attacked him. I wouldn’t doubt that these liberal jerks that hate America are probably trying to come up with a foreign language test for people who cannot speak English, for their US citizenships. As far as I’m concerned, he owns his business and should be able to do as he pleases (as long as the food is up to health standards). Good for him. I wish him the best in this lawsuit and I hope his business quadruples!
People who think he is a racist should vote with their dollar, and not go to his store. Likewise, those that agree with him (and like his food) will go to his store. Simple economics.
Why is it that someone from a minority can expouse their supremacy over the majority and they are called an “activist” - when a member of the majority (that’s white) expouses nothing more than equality, they’re a bigot and a racist? These people who take exception to the signage are not trying to assimilate into our culture and become American. They are free then to use some of the rights granted to them by our Constitution, namely the freedom of choice and leave! This is America, we speak in English - if that is not upheld, what is a business owner to do, hire a translation service to appease any and all non-English speaking customers who may wonder through the door? I think not. People moving into this country should be expected to learn our language, not expect us to learn theirs.
Many of these posts are filled with ignorance and bigotry. I can’t help but laugh at the comment about assymilating into “our” culture. First of all, America is diverse with numerous cultures - so which culture, do you propose we all assymilate into? Also, if assymilation is what you are after, why did you not “assymilate” into the culture of America’s original people - the aboriginals? Yes, it is America - Joseph Vento needs to respect the myriad of cultures and languages that make up America. If he can’t do that, he has no business operating a business in America. The sign is nothing more than a bigot’s method to discriminate against people who happen to speak a different language or those who come from other countries.
Many tourists visit America, and perhaps don’t speak English. Are we requiring them to communicate in English when visiting for a week or so? Are we then required to learn how to communicate in Japanese when perhaps visiting Japan for a business meeting? Give me a break. Let’s call a spade a spade. Why doesn’t Vento just admit he’s a bigot - he might as well put up a knotsy symbol. For you ignorant tools who support his “right” to discriminate - please educate yourself. If you don’t like the multi-culturalism that constitutes America - maybe you’re the ones that need to leave, or isolate yourself in a little box where you don’t have to interact with people with different cultures. Oh and “American” isn’t a language, its a group of people - morons. It’s called “English” not “American.”
Why not? Why not make that part of the adventure, since Joe and his staff will teach them? No one has ever been refused, just taught. How is that wrong?
You don’t consider it rude not to learn the host countries language, at least in part? I would consider that part of the experience, the adventure, to go to France or Italy and learn to communicate instead of being arrogant and expect them to cater to my limitation.
Given that Joe was from an Immigrant family, apparently he understands more than you do.
Thanks for sharing your views.
Actually, what I consider rude is discriminating against people from different cultures and expecting them to “assymilate.” If you can’t stand the multi-culturalism that exists in America - leave the country, or go live in your bubble. Apparently Joe isn’t as usiness savvy as he thinks he is, if he is willing to give up business from a group of customers. It’s racism - plain and simple - let’s not try to hide it.
“No one has ever been refused, just taught” What is he a teacher now? Judging by comments in his interviews, he doesn’t exactly have a strong command of the English language himself - what a hypocrit. And please, the owner of a greasy cheese steak outlet is in no position to “teach” anyone anything.
What I also deem as “rude” is how so many of you are ignorant. I think it stems from a lack of education, common sense and self-confidence. Grow up - it’s 2008. If you don’t like the fact that America has opened its doors to immigrants, exercise your option to leave. It would be a much better country if there were less uneducated, ignorant and just plain ridiculous individuals like yourself.
Oh and another thing, please explain how if the sign is written in English, the customers he is trying to shun from his bussiness will be able to understand the sign?
At least klansmen are straight up about being racists.
“Given that Joe was from an Immigrant family, apparently he understands more than you do.”
And you would know that I’m not from an Immigrant family, how exactly? FYI - I am from an immigrant family, who does happen to speak English. However, because I am among the more educated, open-minded individuals of society - I disagree with your logic, or lack thereof.
Thanks for sharing your views.