English Only?

Syzygy wrote: Bob Greece wrote: Syzygy wrote: Warre doia? Ud sun luszt!   Ud mennh!    Sadly there's no Kobaian translation for 'very witty, smart arse!'

Equality 7-2521 wrote: I live in Philly and am a very regular costomer of Geno's, especially recently to give my support to this man.   First off what needs to be said is that as a private business owner he can refuse service to whoever he wants and if you don't like it, tough. He's well within his rights here, but is he being reasonable? Yes.   If I were to walk up to the window speaking in a language I made up, that nobody could possibly understand, should I expect him to serve me. No, it'd be impossible for him to because he simply can not understand what I'm communicating. He asks a simply request that residents of this country, speak the language of this country. He is doing these immigrants a favor as they can never assimilate if they don't learn the language. He reserves the right to refuse service, but that doesn't mean he always does. On the contrary he works with people trying to teach them how to work in English, but when its a busy time, and his organazation is based on speed(if you've never been there I can't explain how speedy the machine of Geno's runs) he can't be spending time deciphering what someone is trying to say.   To all those who have offered anecdotal evidence (aka worthless) of an American who traveled to another country and didn't attempt to learn the language, one rotten apple doesn't spoil the bunch. Some American refuse to speak in a foreign language while in other countries, therefore no American can expect a foreign person to speak in English when he comes to America? That logic besides being falty doesn't apply to the point here, the sign is directed at American citizens who refuse to learn the language.   His demand isn't all to hard to fufill. The ordering process at Geno's goes like this, the word cheesesteak is never said. You go up to the counter and say if you want onions or not, and what kind of cheese. Ex: to order a cheesesteak with American cheese and onions you say "American With" or to order a cheesesteak with Wiz and without onions you go up to the counter and say "Wiz Without". Two words, not especially hard for anyone to learn.

I would mostly agree with this. Something people forget is that when you run a business, you are trying to make money, not please everyone. In a business if something is slowing you down, you attempt to fix it (and hopefully in a legal way) to improve efficiency.

Businesses are not the government. They don't need to cater to everyone. They want to make money. Bottom line, end of discussion.

I would caution you though, what if Geno has a deaf, blind, or mute person? Does he just refuse them service? Doing so would be extremely discriminatory and illegal. Contrary to popular belief, businesses CAN NOT refuse service to anyone they please. Their has to be a legitimate reason on why they can not serve them. What's up for debate is whether not knowing English is a legitamate reason.



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For those of you who lump all Americans in the same boat of bigotry. Thanks for letting me know you are a hypocrite. I'll remember to not be your friend on these forums and not waste my time reading your posts since it's fairly obvious you live your life by stereotypes.

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Another topic. America has one of the most diverse cultures in the world? You know why? We are one of the most tolerant nations in the world, in addition to having one of the best economies. No, we aren't perfect, and we do a lot of wrong as well. But, people are lining up to get into our country, and there's a reason for that. I don't see people lining up to get into Germany, France, or Sweden. It's not becuase those countries are bad, some of it has to do with geography, but don't sit here and tell me that these European countries are diverse, as that is absolutely false relative to the salad bowl that is the USA, and there is just as much bigotry there as there is here, that's why you don't stereotype. I love Europe but can't stand some of the sterotypes I get there because I'm American.

Take the UK poster who hated the Muslims who was banned. I would not qualify that over all of the UK, becuase I know the majority of the people there are not like that. Don't sit and qualify that all Americans are conceited, you insult me and my intelligence. It's easy to lose all rational thought and proceed to feelings, but you have to move that out of the way when trying to have a real discussion.

In closing, I hope you all have a wonderful day, and remember that we are part of the human race, not just a member of some country.

Atkingani wrote: I may tell you because I come from one of the most stereotyped countries in the world. People around the world cannot believe (or accept) that here we don't live in trees, among snakes and monkeys and don't eat exclusively bananas and also that we don't enjoy a kind of permanent Carnival, where all women are naked and all men are pimps.

Don't forget "Brazil...you guys speak Spanish, right?" 

NaturalScience wrote: Atkingani wrote: I may tell you because I come from one of the most stereotyped countries in the world. People around the world cannot believe (or accept) that here we don't live in trees, among snakes and monkeys and don't eat exclusively bananas and also that we don't enjoy a kind of permanent Carnival, where all women are naked and all men are pimps.   Don't forget "Brazil...you guys speak Spanish, right?"

wise words Tony, i was a tad angry myself at the time

Tony R wrote: Atkingani wrote: NaturalScience wrote: Atkingani wrote: I may tell you because I come from one of the most stereotyped countries in the world. People around the world cannot believe (or accept) that here we don't live in trees, among snakes and monkeys and don't eat exclusively bananas and also that we don't enjoy a kind of permanent Carnival, where all women are naked and all men are pimps. [IMG]height=17 alt=Dead src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley11.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>  Don't forget "Brazil...you guys speak Spanish, right?"  [IMG]alt=Wink src="smileys/smiley2.gif" align=absMiddle>   [IMG]height=17 alt=Shocked src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>[IMG]height=17 alt=LOL src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>[IMG]height=17 alt=Wink src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>         and if you want a new internet connection it takes months,right? It's not only foreigners who have misconceptions about Brazil....

By Chamberry : And I also never known a person who refusses to learn the native language in with they are living. Yes there are some who don't but you are generalising there when you said "and never attempt to learn the native language." I'll bet at least 95% of those immigrants are trying hard to learn it and just because the other 5% are having trouble or don't want to learn english this things happen?

One more step into racism...

Edited by Melomaniac - October 27 2006 at 14:39

OpethGuitarist wrote: @melo - chamberry made those comments... check it again

Anyone ever been to Orlando? I can tell you one thing-many cashiers only speak Spanish, and when I ask them a question, etc..., they look at me as if it was horrible I had the audacity to expect them to understand the native language of the country they live in. In another country, would you consider ordering something if you couldn't read it? I am going to Germany this summer, and I am trying to learn basic conversational German, I would never order in English, I'd probably be thrown out...