Americans - What do you think of what this shopkeeper did?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071215/ap_on_re_us/english_only_cheesesteaks_5

Answer 1

I beleive he is right. I don't mind if people come here from other countries as long as they learn the language. (my mother is Nicaraguan and she learned english) I don't understand why people demand you talk to them in their language in the U.S. I live in San diego. We have Mexican people coming from Mexico, living and working here and not learning the lanuage. They get mad if you don't talk to them in Spanish. Like why are you here if you don't want to learn English? I've been to Mexico but they refuse to talk to you in English!!! If you go to any other country (that doesn't mainly speak english) are they going to talk to you in english?

Answer 2

I only speak English,
Anyone that has every spelled in English know that English is a hard language Many words sound the same but spelled different or they are pronounced nothing like they are spelled, and if I owned a business I'm afraid everyone would have to speak to me in English or I would have no idea what they are wanting, I kind of see where the man in the video comes from if you slow down business to try and figure out what someone is saying you lose money.

Answer 3

I feel that it is a private business and if he wants his customers to order in English and risk losing business from people who don't speak english, then so be it.

As usual, we are blowing this out of proportion. I really don't know why we can't declare English the official language of the United States. After all, other countries have done this and managed to live with that decision.

Answer 4

It's very hard anywhere to order something in a foreign language. If I go to France, I will be expected to order in French, if I go to China, I'll have to order in Chinese. Certainly, some restaurants will be bilingual, but not many. Why is it that Americans are expected to know every other language on earth? I would accept this in other countries, they should accept it here.

Answer 5

I for one am getting TOTALLY sick and tired of all these MINORITY GROUPS complaining about the use of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE in the USA.... after all, it has been the COMMON LANGUAGE in this country for over 300 YEARS so why should ANYONE be offended if they are asked to ORDER IN ENGLISH... Here's a thought----all these people who come here from other countries COME here to become AMERICANS... they don't come here to bring their OTHER COUNTRY WITH THEM... they want citizenship, they want benefits, then SPEAK ENGLISH.... I get SO angry every time I call EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS any more and hear "PRESS 1 for ENGLISH".... Immigrants who came to this country in the 20's, 30's and 40's LEARNED ENGLISH and spoke it... and became TRUE AMERICAN CITIZENS... if people come here from other countries and refuse to learn or SPEAK English, then for all I care, SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.... why should AMERICANS cow-tow to a MINORITY GROUP of people who want to run to a LAWYER every single time someone gets UPSET because they REFUSE TO SPEAK THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

If his customers are offended they do not have to patronize his establishment. It should be survival of the fittest and let the free market sort out the winners and the losers.

Answer 7

GO JOE, GO good for him, its about time, their nothing worse that having to take a food order from someone who does not speak English

Answer 8

He has a point. It is going to be very difficult for immigrants to function here if they can not speak english.

Answer 9

He has the right to put the sign up. He may loose customers, as it is each customers right to refuse to go there.

Answer 10

i have been to this cheesesteak place in philadelphia. there is nothing wrong with it, they are not discriminatory at all. he was perfectly within his right to ask that people order in english, because if his servers dont speak a different language then how can they do their job?