About six months ago, Gino's, the famous philadelphia cheesesteak shop, put up a sign that said "This is America, when ordering, please speak English." Recently, people have been saying that it can be offensive. I don't get it. I'm not trying to be ignorant here, but would anyone actually be offended by that sign? The people that work there only speak English, it seems pretty practical to ask people to order in English. (btw: I realize that it doesn't make sense, the sign is in English so anyone who would be ordering in another language wouldn't understand it.)
2006-06-28 19:54:48 · 15 answers · asked by romantemple16 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
I have to say, I agree with you completely on this, for the exact reasons you gave. If people take offense to it, then simply stop eating there. If immigrants were actually getting harassed, it would be a whole other thing.
2006-06-28 20:20:49 · answer #1 · answered by justagirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You make a good point the sign is in English, so how would they know what they want if they couldn't understand at least a little. In some of my experiences, people do speak English, they just don't want to, and they think it is great we cater to them to the point where we create another Mexico. When you go to France, you order in French, right? Why should the U.S be different. If you want to live here, speak the language.
2006-06-29 10:47:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hell with them if they don't like it. We live in an ENGLISH speaking country. If you go to Mexico, you wouldn't expect all of the signs to be in English, right? When we stipulate that we are an English speaking country, however, they get upset! Screw them! I am sick and tired of catering to these idiots in every way. Since they have it so horrible here, why don't they leave? ENGLISH ONLY!!!!
When my family came over from Italy, they didn't expect everyone here to learn their language because they weren't stupid the way illegal Mexicans tend to be for the most part. ENGLISH ONLY!!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU'RE FROM!!!!! By the way, that Ginos guy is of Italian descent and we tend to be very patriotic. He owns that store and has the right to keep that sign up. If I owned it, I would never take it down.
2006-06-29 03:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely nothing. Fact is, if people try to order in any language OTHER than English, chances are they will not be understood and not get what they want, anyway.
Besides the obvious, I am in 100% agreement with the meaning of the sign. People in this country need to learn to conduct business in English. I have lived all over the world for the entire decade of the 1990s. In any other country in the world, you need to learn to communicate in the native tongue of the country you are in or you will starve. And there will not be a whole lot of sympathy for you. We are about the only country in the world that acts like we have to adjust ourselves around our immigrants rather than vice versa.
And it is wrong. ENGLISH ONLY.
2006-06-29 03:20:48 · answer #4 · answered by Outlaw 1-3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah I agree with you. This is America and we speak English here. I hate having to press "1" for English when I call some place. What I do when I get one of those recordings is press the "0" for their operator. And when she comes on and ask how she (or he) can help I tell them that I want to speak to someone in English. When they ask why I didn't press the "1" I tell them that this is America and I should NOT have to press "1" for English since this is an English speaking country
DEPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS
ENGLISH ONLY IN AMERICA
2006-06-29 10:54:48 · answer #5 · answered by Julie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is wrong. One language has purpose and most know that.
Hey kid don't go in the street a car is coming--oops the parents didn't understand,
No why is saying until you learn we won't help you--they are saying please learn as quick as you can because there is a reason to one language.
What if everyone in American talked different-there are many from all over the world. It would not be safe or cost efficient (schools-would be an example). And Spanish is not special-how many Italians do we have-how many from Poland ect.--more than them.
People who complain--are not thinking at all-just acting foolish.
2006-06-29 14:43:56 · answer #6 · answered by *** The Earth has Hadenough*** 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would just like to say that princess_29_71 is the most racist, arrogant, stupid, and idiotic person in all of these immigration discussions. You call Mexicans all of these mean names and slap false stereotypes on them like it's nothing. I'm pretty sure you haven't even met another minority because you have all this junk in your head about them, and they'd probably beat you because of your racist views. And I'm pretty sure you haven't even read up on this whole political debate on immigration, read statistics on what minorities and illegal immigrants do for this country, and how hard they work to get what they need. You say your family came to America from Italy and they didn't demand to speak Italian, but how would you know?? Were you there when they came over??? It's probably not your fault that you have these racist thoughts, you were probably one of the many children that was fed these views and bigot opinions from your parents and/or relatives that know nothing better!
2006-06-29 08:33:58 · answer #7 · answered by divaliciousmandy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i really don't see the big deal in that. Maybe because not everyone in philadelphia speaks perfect english and if someone from america went to france or even mexico and there was a sign that siad "this is france/mexico when ordering please speak french/spanish" someone might find that offensive.
2006-06-29 03:01:40 · answer #8 · answered by Jesse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's kind of funny that people would get offended at that sign and at the same time don't understand (or don't care) that Americans get offended about illegals.
2006-06-29 03:55:01 · answer #9 · answered by joeandhisguitar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you go to France, they want you to speak French.
If you go to Spain, they want you to speak Spanish.
If you go to Mexico, they want you to speak what used to be Spanish and is now the "ebonics" version of Spanish.
If you go to Italy, they want you to speak Italian.
If you go to Germany... (REPEAT AD NAUSEUM)
If you go to China, Japan, India, Afghanistan, FILL IN THE BLANKLAND, they want you to speak thier language.
Come to America, and we want you to speak English, as it is the language spoken by the legal residents of this nation by a massive majority, and it is considered the official language.
THIS IS NOT RACISM, IT'S COMMON SENSE, AND EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN NATION HAS THIS SAME POLICY!!!!
2006-06-29 03:03:08 · answer #10 · answered by askthepizzaguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋