Philadelphia Cheesesteak Shop Owner Defends 'Order in English' Policy

CheezeFlixz · December 15, 2007, 10:12:13 AM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316939,00.html

These is getting ridiculous, are business owner now suppose to hire interpreters to accommodate those that refuse to learn the common language? Seem simple to me if you don't speak the language and go to a store and place an order don't expect the store to know what you are ordering and don't expect to get what you ordered if no one knows what you ordered.
All of our road signs are in English, our constitution is in English, the bill of rights are in English, congressional hearing are held in English, presidential press meeting are in English, pretty much everything in this country is in English so whats the problem? Why can't a business operate in English only.

Mr. DS · December 15, 2007, 11:40:26 AM

I get offended when the ATM asks me if I want "English" or "Spanish".

nshumate · December 15, 2007, 11:46:20 AM

As far as I'm concerned, business owners can conduct their business in whatever language they want; it's no more offensive to have an "Order in English only" sign than a "VISA or Mastercard, no Discover" sign. And that's not just for English; I wouldn't find it offensive if restaurant run by an immigrant family catering to an ethnic clientele put up a sign saying "Order in Spanish" or whatever.

BoyScoutKevin · December 15, 2007, 11:49:24 AM

I get offended just at the thought of ordering another Philadelphia cheesesteak. When I was in Philadelphia I had to order one, just to say I ordered one, and it was at a place that makes some of the better ones. This is it! I doubt I'll ever order another one.

nshumate · December 15, 2007, 12:11:16 PM

I am offended that you are offended at philly cheesesteaks. You malign and profane the holy cheesesteak! I shall pillage and burn your lands until your infidel blood runs in the direction of Philadelphia! I shall --

Wait, I'm a Mormon. We don't do those things. Never mind.

CheezeFlixz · December 15, 2007, 02:48:25 PM

Quote from: nshumate on December 15, 2007, 12:11:16 PM
I am offended that you are offended at philly cheesesteaks. You malign and profane the holy cheesesteak! I shall pillage and burn your lands until your infidel blood runs in the direction of Philadelphia! I shall --

Wait, I'm a Mormon. We don't do those things. Never mind.

I'm Methodist, we do ... were do they live?

nshumate · December 15, 2007, 03:58:20 PM

Oh, BoyScoutKEEEE-vin... Come out and PLAAA-ay...

RCMerchant · December 15, 2007, 05:27:49 PM

For once...I agree with Cheezy....! If you are going to live somewhere...learn the language!!!! It's just common sense and courtesy. We should NOT have to change ourselves to please foriengers. They came here. It's like having someone come to your house and honk the horn...if you want to see me...get out of your dam car and knock on the door. YOU came to ME...not visa versa!

And no...I am NOT a racist...so far from it it isn't funny...but...I AM an AMERICAN...I may hate the people who run the goverment...but I love my country.

S.O.D....speak English or DIE!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCnEzwdtscc

CheezeFlixz · December 15, 2007, 05:47:53 PM

QuoteFor once...I agree with Cheezy....!

I do believe this is one of the signs of the apocalypse.

raj · December 16, 2007, 01:16:31 PM

Quote from: CheezeFlixz on December 15, 2007, 05:47:53 PM
QuoteFor once...I agree with Cheezy....!

I do believe this is one of the signs of the apocalypse.

I'm offended by signs of the apocalypse!

Personally, I don't mind if a store has an English only policy or welcomes many other languages. I just don't think that if a store has an English only policy that it should be fined. Is every store now going to have to hire an interpreter for Spanish? What about other languages? When I lived in Portland Oregon the electric bill would come with a pamphlet in English, Spanish, Japanese(?) Chinese(which language, Cantonese or Mandarin or another) Hindi, Vietnamese, Laotion, Vietnamese, et al. It's ridiculous to have to make an outlay for so many different languages. To really have a cohesive nation there needs to be a single language everyone understands. If I moved to Mexico, I would expect that I'd have to learn Mexican-Spanish.

RCMerchant · December 16, 2007, 04:03:18 PM

Quote from: raj on December 16, 2007, 01:16:31 PM
Quote from: CheezeFlixz on December 15, 2007, 05:47:53 PM
QuoteFor once...I agree with Cheezy....!

I do believe this is one of the signs of the apocalypse.

I'm offended by signs of the apocalypse!

Personally, I don't mind if a store has an English only policy or welcomes many other languages. I just don't think that if a store has an English only policy that it should be fined. Is every store now going to have to hire an interpreter for Spanish? What about other languages? When I lived in Portland Oregon the electric bill would come with a pamphlet in English, Spanish, Japanese(?) Chinese(which language, Cantonese or Mandarin or another) Hindi, Vietnamese, Laotion, Vietnamese, et al. It's ridiculous to have to make an outlay for so many different languages. To really have a cohesive nation there needs to be a single language everyone understands. If I moved to Mexico, I would expect that I'd have to learn Mexican-Spanish.

I think the sign of the Apocalypse Cheese was refering to was me agreeing with him on something beyond our taste in movies...

dean · December 17, 2007, 06:51:45 AM

I'm offended that people who find cheesesteaks offensive are offending people easily offended...

Not to nitpick, but if they can't speak English they won't be able to read the sign anyways... That seems like a waste of money and is very much making a political point instead of a 'valid business tool'.

That being said, I get this whole learn the language thing, but personally I get very annoyed when I hear things like "This is AMERICA/AUSTRALIA learn the language!!" It just smacks slightly of racism in my mind..

I think actually, it's just the wording of the sign that annoys me, especially that 'This is AMERICA' [capital letters emphasizing the point that they think the people who apply in this sign are idiots] and the fact that it doesn't even say please.

I think I'd let it pass if it was a simple 'Please order in English' or something like that, especially in a town with a large amount of non-english-as-a-first-language area [though one could debate then that you can easily hire bi-lingual staff but meh that makes too much sense....]

I'm sure it's annoying when someone comes in and is trying to order and doesn't know the language. God knows I did it heaps of times in Mexico/Cuba, but usually you can get through it easily enough, so I don't see what the fuss is about really. I mean, sure, learn the language if you live there, or at least something to get you by at minimum, but what about tourists [if this place is meant to be semi famous like it claims to be I'm sure it'll get some tourist money through the door.]

I'm a big advocate of learning the language of the country you are travelling to but I by no means was an expert when I was away, and I'd get really annoyed if someone turned me away just because I couldn't speak the language. I can bloody well point at a menu and get my point across [though that may be all the charades practice...]

Still, I understand why people feel like they need to make signs like this, I just think it's more insulting than practical business sense...

So yes, if you have that much trouble with your customers, then for god's sake hire staff who can speak both languages, since obviously there's a population demand for it [and an availability.] If it's only the occasional customer, then how can that be so bad for business. I get more annoying customers who can speak English and are idiots than people who can't speak the language well or even at all... I'd rather they leave...

asimpson2006 · December 17, 2007, 11:12:11 AM

I think heard this on our local news some time ago. I live just outside of Harrisburg PA so I hear news like this all the time. I had no problem with it personally. It would be like living in another country that English is not it's native tounge then trying to apply for a job in their language but not knowing it at all.

I think learning some of another langugage is important. I mean you don't have to have a full mastery of the language I think to be able to have a simple conversation with someone like asking for directions, buying a meal, buying other things etc will suffice. I would be pleased it someone would learn at least 5 to 10 things in a language and be able to put it in a sentence like asking how are you, or what is the weather like today. To me that would be enough to know.

raj · December 17, 2007, 04:25:34 PM

Ideally kids would learn a second language early on in school. It makes sense in that it helps kids' brains grow and get smarter, not to mention that in a global economy a second language can help in the business world. One problem I see from my mom's experience as a grade school teacher is that teachers & their aids have too big a class size plus they do lots of social work, rather than teach. But the whole primary education mess is best left for another ranting thread.

Yaddo 42 · December 18, 2007, 12:22:45 AM

My feelings probably fall closest to Dean's. I have no problem with a private business owner having an "English only" policy for his store. If he wants to limit his customer base that way, go ahead. Just as I wouldn't have a problem with people refusing to patronize his store instead of conforming to his policy. But it does tread that fine line of discrimination. What if the guy refuses people service because their English "isn't good enough"?

But the "This is America...." thing bugs me, it strikes me as too much of a "we were here first" thing. Taken to an extreme, could Indian business (or more likely casino) owners demand that we all use their native languages, since they were here before the rest of us. Oh that's right, we defeated them.

My grandparents were Polish immigrants to the US, they taught themselves English because they had to to function here. They did become naturalized citizens. Their accents have always been thick, I wonder if they would be considered "American" enough for some people? I know in decades past, they weren't.