English Only?

"The United States is one of the few countries in the civilized world where the majority of it's residents refuse to learn a foregin language."

Heheheh...arent you forgeting something? If this Vento character doesnt want to serve people who dont speak or read in english...why does he put a sign in english? Hehehehe..., pretty stupid if you ask me...

Yes, I can see why it bothers the USA people that inmigrants dont bother to learn english... but I have worked with turists, mostly from Germany, but some fomr USA also...and they litereally thought that every salesman who didnt know english was either stupid or ...rood...

So...well, yes there is sh*t everywhere I guess


Edited by el böthy - June 09 2006 at 17:56

Logos wrote: For Americans it's all about them, they're the best people in the world and other nationalities are inferior. Heck, here in Finland everyone has to learn at least English and Swedish. Many people study other languages as well. In the 21st century the world is smaller than ever, cultures are nearer to each other. In order to be able to communicate and co-operate with people from other countries and cultures you need to speak other languages as well! And also have some basic knowledge about other cultures, which many people don't have for sure..

Logos wrote: For Americans it's all about them, they're the best people in the world and other nationalities are inferior.

Yes, and sweeping racist generalizations are the best way to win an argument.

el böthy wrote: Ah and also..."This is America"...yes, its part of America...`cause you see...people in the USA call themself americans... I also am an american!... Please, dont forget the name of your country...its United States of America... Peru is America, Canada is America, Argentina is America, Mexico is America, Jamaica is Amarica, Cuba is America, Puerto Rico is America... You dont see a german guy calling him self european to say from what country he is from... If you people are so pride of your country (which is great) then...why call it just America, which is a mistake...call yourself UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and do it with pride...and remember, America is a continent, not a country

AtLossForWords wrote: Drew wrote: I don't know if putting a sign outside your shop would qualify you as an "extremist"   "How do you say cheesesteak with in Spanish? Joseph Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, doesn't know. And he doesn't care." Maybe if he wasn't so extreme he would sell a few extra cheesesteaks if he would just learn 1-2 foreign words. In what Language? Isnt it easier for the non-English speakers to learn a few simple words?   "...The Ventos rarely left their South Philadelphia neighborhood. Now, in a way, the neighborhood has left the couple's descendants. Geno's sits at Ninth and Passyunk, the hub of Little Italy turned home to thousands of Mexicans"   He could always just move his buisness away from hispainics.  Why persist to insult them with signs like "This is America, when ordering speak English"?  He could just say "I don't understand, do you speak English?"  He's trying to make a political statement that English is the American way, learn it or get the f**k out.      and the icing on the cake   "With Geno's Steaks tattooed on his arm, Vento is used to publicizing things, especially what's on his mind. Speak English signs also poster his Hummer. He has driven through South Philadelphia blaring through the SUV's P.A. system denunciations of neighborhood business owners who hire illegal immigrants." key word= illegal   He goes through the neighborhood on his own damn loudspeaker telling other buisnessmen how to make decisions that support his own agenda.

Drew wrote: [  The last dude in here to refer to USA as "America" was Finnish

Drew wrote: AtLossForWords wrote: Drew wrote: [  The last dude in here to refer to USA as "America" was Finnish   Who are you talking about?       Logos Prog Reviewer Joined: March 08 2005 Online Status: Online Posts: 1817   Posted: Today at 17:56 For Americans it's all about them, they're the best people in the world and other nationalities are inferior. Heck, here in Finland everyone has to learn at least English and Swedish. Many people study other languages as well. In the 21st century the world is smaller than ever, cultures are nearer to each other. In order to be able to communicate and co-operate with people from other countries and cultures you need to speak other languages as well! And also have some basic knowledge about other cultures, which many people don't have for sure..     anyways- we just need to agree to disagree

Imagine if Joseph Vento went on holiday to Brazil and wanted to buy a cheese burger, but there was a sign saying "We only serve people who speak Portuguese, you are in Brazil"

Use drawings. And think about this in terms of a long process. Finally, with a little luck, every language will be just one: ESPERANTO, wich is kind of hard to catch... I don't know about the person wich starts this thread, I find it reasonable to catch the language of the country you're living in, but if the country is slowly getting populated with people from other etnicity (?), you're probably looking at the start of a major culture melting. If an English speaker comes to Chile without a dicctionary, some of the times she / he'll find an English speaker, some of the times she / he wont. But She / He wont get casted out; the 90% of the population will do the effort to find a solution to the "problem". Please, tell that guy that I think it is wrong to involve such a delicious item as cheese into this whole appartheid attitude.