Philadelphia Cheesesteak Shop Owner Defends 'Order in English' Policy

[CheezeFlixz]

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.

I understand what you are saying, but if you went to Poland would you expect some small Pierogi and Golabki Shop to speak English?

[raj]

I understand what you are saying, but if you went to Poland would you expect some small Pierogi and Golabki Shop to speak English?

It's a fact that foreigners understand English if you speak it loud enough. 

Long ago, 1990, I was in Berlin, eating dinner (alone) and there weren't enough table available.  So a pair of German couples sat down with me.  We had a pretty good conversation, half English, half German.  I'm sure my German was awful, but they appreciated that I at least made the effort.

[CheezeFlixz]

I understand what you are saying, but if you went to Poland would you expect some small Pierogi and Golabki Shop to speak English?

It's a fact that foreigners understand English if you speak it loud enough. 

Long ago, 1990, I was in Berlin, eating dinner (alone) and there weren't enough table available.  So a pair of German couples sat down with me.  We had a pretty good conversation, half English, half German.  I'm sure my German was awful, but they appreciated that I at least made the effort.

Exactly, I traveled internationally for many, many years and as long as you made an real effort to speak the local language you got much further. You didn't have to be good at it, just try.
I saw plenty of the typical ugly Americans in those countries that thought everywhere you went people were suppose to speak English. Granted English is the most commonly spoke language in the world, but some folks think that is you are in some little backwater town of say Russia or China their going to speak English. It was really upsetting to me to see that and it was embarrassing because more often than not it was Americans demanding folks speak English. I being the shy guy that I am had no problem telling them in a very matter of fact way that they should learn the local language and stop being a rude ass as it's people like them giving us a bad name and if they can't stay the hell home.
I always made a effort to learn a few basic phrases in the local language along with carrying a phrase book/pocket translator. I found myself apologizing for the rude behavior of my countrymen. 

[AndyC]

Just to take a slightly different tack with this, does it not seem like some folks are using this to fit their own agenda? I mean, the protesters branding this a "hate crime" and the comparison to the Jim Crow south. These are people with axes to grind, and this guy just happened to attract their attention.

And it might seem a little less ridiculous if it were some Anglo-Saxon-looking guy named John Smith, but Joe Vento seems like someone with maybe a couple of generations between him and Italy. I could be wrong about that; the story doesn't say anything about it. But I have a feeling there might be some immigrants in his family for whom English is a second language. It's not like he's some ignorant, anti-immigrant jerk. He just believes that for people to live together, they need a common form of communication. That, and ordering in English keeps the line moving.

[asimpson2006]

I understand what you are saying, but if you went to Poland would you expect some small Pierogi and Golabki Shop to speak English?

It's a fact that foreigners understand English if you speak it loud enough. 

Long ago, 1990, I was in Berlin, eating dinner (alone) and there weren't enough table available.  So a pair of German couples sat down with me.  We had a pretty good conversation, half English, half German.  I'm sure my German was awful, but they appreciated that I at least made the effort.

Exactly, I traveled internationally for many, many years and as long as you made an real effort to speak the local language you got much further. You didn't have to be good at it, just try.
I saw plenty of the typical ugly Americans in those countries that thought everywhere you went people were suppose to speak English. Granted English is the most commonly spoke language in the world, but some folks think that is you are in some little backwater town of say Russia or China their going to speak English. It was really upsetting to me to see that and it was embarrassing because more often than not it was Americans demanding folks speak English. I being the shy guy that I am had no problem telling them in a very matter of fact way that they should learn the local language and stop being a rude ass as it's people like them giving us a bad name and if they can't stay the hell home.
I always made a effort to learn a few basic phrases in the local language along with carrying a phrase book/pocket translator. I found myself apologizing for the rude behavior of my countrymen. 

When I was in Japan about 5 and half years ago my Japanese was pretty poor, so I got corrrected often when I would speak to someone in Japanese.  It was still poor but I think they at least liked the fact I attmepted it and didn't butcher it too badly. My Japanese is still poor, but I haven't had time to work on it. 

This is America part could be removed.  I mean the English only is fine, but "this is America" part could be taken the wrong way by some people. 

[nshumate]

When I was in Japan about 5 and half years ago my Japanese was pretty poor, so I got corrrected often when I would speak to someone in Japanese.  It was still poor but I think they at least liked the fact I attmepted it and didn't butcher it too badly.

Heh.  When I was in Japan, you could tell just how badly you were speaking the language because the natives would make a point of encouraging you and telling you how skillful (Jozu) your Japanese was... whereas if you actually were jozu, they would just speak with you without mentioning your skills at all.

[Yaddo 42]

I understand what you are saying, but if you went to Poland would you expect some small Pierogi and Golabki Shop to speak English?

Others seems to addressed this while I've been away, but no I would not expect them to speak English. I'd hope they wouldn't just flat out refuse my business because I couldn't order in the native tongue, however.

On the other side of the coin, when I lived in DC, quite often I would go to fast food places and none of the staff except maybe a manager seemed to speak English. There was an awesome chicken sandwich restaurant I went to all the time where only the guy working the counter spoke heavily accented English, very badly BTW. I think  they were all Eastern European, possibly Russian of Ukrainian.

[Killer Bees]

Cheesesteak!!!!!

I kept reading cheesecake!!!   *lol*