Giuliani to make 'English only' cheesesteak stop

[antiimperialist]

Source: CNN POLITICAL TICKER

It's almost a necessity for any presidential candidate who swings through Philadelphia — making a stop at one of the city's famous cheesesteak shops.

But the landmark Philly restaurant former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani plans to stop at later Monday is also famous for another reason: its controversial 'Please speak English' sign.

Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, sparked controversy last year when he put up a sign at his store proclaiming, "This is America. When Ordering Please Speak English."

Rachel Lawton, the executive director of the city's Human Relations Commission (HRC), blasted the sign in June 2006, saying it amounts to discrimination against those who cannot speak English. A hearing on the sign was scheduled last Wednesday but was postponed because the city wanted more time to review Vento's motion to dismiss the case, according to the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.



Read more: Giuliani to make 'English only' cheesesteak stop

[tridim]

1. What an idiot. nt

[GRLMGC]

2. How obnoxious

Not surprising, though.

[DRoseDARs]

3. And right before he accepts his serving of cheesesteak from the host, his cellphone will ring... nt

Edit: Bah, my snark will NOT be undone by a typo! :grr:

[NYC]

4. Cheesesteak. I don't know if they have cheesecake.

Both are good. :hi:

[DRoseDARs]

7. "Cheesesteak" sounds vile, cheesecake sounded much better. God I could go for a slice right now...

My bad. ^_^

[NYC]

11. I would also like a slice. :)

Good stuff.

And cheesesteak isn't vile. Have you ever had one? It's a Philadelphia thing.

[tekisui]

5. "Please speak nineeleven."

[AlCzervik]

6. Lol!!

[Cha]

23. Si, rudy only understands two words..

or 3..9 fucking 11.

[rurallib]

8. Just recently we still had pockets where German was the only language

out here in Iowa. I have heard Wisconsin and Pennsylvania still do also. Can't wait til they haul them off to jail for speaking in tongues.

[Xipe Totec]

9. May I just say, from the bottom of my heart,

¡Que chinge a su pinche madre!




(may he love his own mother)





(and not in a good way).

[Rage for Order]

10. Does Philly have nothing more important to do?

"A hearing on the sign was scheduled last Wednesday but was postponed because the city wanted more time to review Vento's motion to dismiss the case, according to the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin."

Is it really so important that a hearing needs to be scheduled to discuss this sign? Also, it seems Ms. Lawton is prone to hyperbole:

"Rachel Lawton, the executive director of the city's Human Relations Commission (HRC), blasted the sign in June 2006, saying it amounts to discrimination against those who cannot speak English."

The sign says "...Please Speak English." It doesn't say "Speak English Dammit!", or "Speak English Or We Won't Serve You", it says "Please". I'd guess that you can order in whatever language you want, but the chances of your order being prepared correctly are probably much greater if the people taking your order can understand you.

[DLnyc]

12. If I put up a sign like "Please Don't Be an Obnoxious Punkass Dickhead",

then do you think Rudy will sue me for discriminating against him?

Sorry, I agree with your point, I'm just in a bad mood lately.

[kskiska]

18. The sign did NOT say "Please"

In every reference I've found, it says, "This is America: When ordering, speak English."

[Rage for Order]

20. The OP says differently

From the article cited in the OP:

"Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, sparked controversy last year when he put up a sign at his store proclaiming, "This is America. When Ordering Please Speak English."

[kskiska]

21. Geno's sign

[Rage for Order]

25. Well then, there you go

I stand corrected. I relied on the info in the OP.

[davepc]

55. Whenever anybody asks me the difference between pats and genos i tell em

Pats is just like Genos, without the jingoism.

Whats funny is that the neighboorhood where these steak places are as an immigrant neighboorhood in the 1st place. It still is today, theirs a thriving Latin American community (mostly Mexican) only steps away from Genos and their sign.

[Darth_Kitten]

66. Well in "America" people also speak French and Spanish.........

North America, South America.......idiot doesn't own "America".

[Raejeanowl]

50. It's a Practical Matter

And everyone wants to make a name for themselves out of it. I like your point: It will facilitate (and I only know the English word) getting your order filled the way you want it if you can speak English.

This IS an English-speaking country, is it not?

I actually encounter the opposite problem more often around here. No one behind the counter speaks English. What are my chances of getting good customer service? Who in their right mind employs non-English staff to serve English customers?

[LanternWaste]

52. 100% if you go somewhere else...

"What are my chances of getting good customer service?"

100% if you go somewhere else... :shrug:

As for me, I like the variety. I like communicating with people who speak foreign languages. I like the recipes they bring here. And if communication becomes an actual problem rather than an inconvenience (a very cool inconvenience at that), I guess I could simply go somewhere else.

Being from Texas, I'm not sure this *is* an English speaking country-- more like a half-educated, sub-literate, knuckle-dragging idiom used my redder than redneck neighbors. They're the ones it's more difficult to communicate with...

"A'hm gonna tump this beer over, fer shur..."

[w4rma]

64. Stop trying to go to cheap restaurants that save money by hiring non-English speakers that would

have a hard time finding other jobs.

[Raejeanowl]

65. It's My Fault?

Me wanting to pay less than $10 for a light lunch isn't unthinkable. If it is, then you can pay the difference. What distinguishes a better-paying employer from a McDuck is often no more than how much profit they or their investors insist upon. And the "otherwise unemployables" are willing to work for less.

[Snarkturian Clone]

57. We have the worst mayor in America, what do you expect? NT

[MidwestTransplant]

13. 911 made him do it.

[lumpy]

14. And please do not speak Italian either

Mr Vento.

[Mike Daniels]

15. My wife and I went to Philly last year and the tour guides were sending people everywhere but Geno's

Our guide said that there was a de facto boycott amoung the tourist/visitor trade where they sent people to Geno's major competitors if the request was a generic "where's the best place to find a cheesesteak?"

If someone specifically asked for Geno's the guides gave generic instructions ( oh, it's about a 10 minute walk south from here) but wouldn't give the specific street address.

[Desperadoe]

16. Philadelphia Evening Bulletin

You got a link to that paper?

[brucefan]

46. You don't want a link.

It's Philly's version of the Washington Times.

[tom_paine]

60. It's not even a real newspaper, just a Bushie Lie rag

It has to give it's product away and has no real paying readership beyond Rich Bushies looking to alter reality some more.

It is a grotesque disgrace and the equivalent of a Soviet propaganda rag, no less and no more.

It is disgusting the way these Bushies rob the grave of a distinguished newspaper of it's name to dress the corpse up top prettify their Bushie lies.

There is simply no area of the Old American Republic that hasn't been defiled and destroyed by the Bushies, as the Nazis before them.

This is NO EXAGGERATION, and a whole host of other shoes will be dropping in the next decade.

[Teaser]

17. Go to Pat's Steaks

better steaks there.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

19. I'm sure he went to all the English-speaking places in NYC.

:eyes:

[Cha]

22. Como se

dice? ghouli es un pendejo? Si es verdad.

[Chovexani]

40. ROFL!

I startled my co-workers from laughing so hard at that. :rofl:

[Zhade]

24. What a pair of assholes.

NT!

[lateo]

26. drool slobber

mmmmm cheesesteak mmmmmm

[deacon]

27. This after snubbing the black voter debate. they are all bigots. n/t

[Stella_Artois]

28. Oh bless

He wrote the sign in English, so a non-English speaker would never know about his little rule anyway. An irony no doubt lost on Mr Vento.

[dropkickpa]

29. I wonder, does Vento has a problem with

People speaking italian when ordering? He's italian after all, but this is Murica, dammit! Or is it only "bad" foreign languages he dislikes?

[Orsino]

30. Another wink and nod to the base.

Stupid, evil pandering.

[bigworld]

31. Joe's a dick. A clever dick

who's gotten more free publicity from that little sign than any amount of advertising dollars. Ignore him, he'll go away.

[pinniped]

32. Joe Blow the Asshole probably got all fired up when his POS* presidunce....

declared war on the immigrants, illegals, and non-English speakers.

[Doctor_J]

33. the two-pronged Repuke strategy for 2008 is clear -

1. Get out the loony fringe "base"
2. Suppress voting

If we can overcome #2, it will be a landslide.

[guitar man]

34. I have a friend

who is determined to go to that cheesesteak place and order on in his native Cherokee tongue. I'd love to see the look on that bungole's face when it is explained to him what American language he was hearing :evilgrin:

[fudge stripe cookays]

41. Ha ha!

Give your friend a hug from me. That is perfect!

[guitar man]

53. will do

:hi:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Does Geno's deliver?

If so, can somebody in Philly give me Geno's number, and the address of an empty lot?

[noamnety]

36. If I were Deaf (and local)

I'm not sure if I'd boycott or make a point of using sign language and/or writing my order REALLY slowly, and suing them if they refused to serve me.

[psychopomp]

37. English is our language

I have no problem with the sign...when I travel, I always make an effort to be able to speak the basics in the local language.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

39. Yeah, because you really CAN learn a language in two week's notice. Riiiiight.

My job just sent me to Germany for a week (I'm in Brazil). Reading a phrase book quickly will get you nowhere, believe me.

I ended up speaking English. People there did the best to accomodate me. If some asshole excoriated me for not speaking German, he'd get an earful.

In France, I was careful to try Spanish first, then English (Portuguese is too rare for even trying). People were helpful there too.

The sign can be translated as "I'm a xenophobic asshole."

[psychopomp]

44. I don't have to believe you, I speak from experience

I learned Japanese, Korean and Indonesian, the latter two only just enough to get by during my travels. Is it so hard to order food?

[Thothmes]

47. learn

Some time back I was in Hamburg Germany, saw several signs on clubs that stated only German spoken here. The signs were in English.

[Honeycombe8]

42. Yes,....when in Rome, etc. People should speak English here. But the sign...

is somewhat hostile. I mean, if someone can't speak English...then they can't read it either, right? So who's the sign for?

But I agree that he has a right to refuse service to anyone whose order he can't understand...or a right to refuse service to anyone, period (as long as it's not a civil rights issue).

This was done back in the hippie days...signs requiring guys to have short hair, have shoes and shirts on, etc.

The city shouldn't make a big deal of it, IMO. It'll pass...like the anti-hippie signs passed. It's just a passing phenomena of the times.

I'm guessing that the owner of the shop has had some trouble in the past, whether understanding orders, or whatever.

[Danmel]

43. They know you can't speak their language anyway

My husband was in Germany (Hamburg) on business with co-worker who is Indian (subcontinent Indian). Anyway, he ordered "Tzwi Gross Bier Bitte" (2 large beers please) in his best German accent. The waitress (in perfect German accented English) said "Right away Sir and I'll bring you the English language menu!

He was devastated! :)

Rudy is an ass- what is there to say- They have these T-shirts in the mall "Welcome to America- now Speak English" I wonder how well all the idiots who wear them would do if they moved to a country with a different language.

[Mike Daniels]

51. Anywhere I go I find that the "locals" appreciate any effort you make to speak their language

Will they peg you as an American visiting their county. Most definitely

Do they expect you to be fluent in their language? No.

Do they expect you to be grammatically correct (verb tense/subject order)? Not especially.

Will they laugh when your attempt to order a coffee and two pastries comes out as "please cover me with coffee pastries". Probably and at which point they will gently recommend that you order everything from that point forward in English


However, in the end, just making an attempt goes a long way.

[Buns_of_Fire]

61. ...much more so than we do here, needless to say!

What do you call someone who knows several languages?
Multi-lingual.
What do you call someone who knows two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who knows only one language?
An American.

(I'm still mulling over what you say if you really WANT to be covered in coffee pastries...)

[LanternWaste]

67. Funny how much effort we place...

Funny how much effort we place on the little things like languages and imaginary red and blue lines on a map-- these things of the mind which cause such great consternation in the 'Us vs. Them' crowds.

I think it's great you can order food in other languages, but as for me-- I treasure the addition of more languages in our culture, giving it greater depth and breadth. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before people begin to place food on the same level as language. "It's America, dammit! Eat American food or go home".

English only might be efficient for the profit oriented, but it's very, very boring for the creative and stifling for imagination...

[KamaAina]

38. English only? Does that mean you can't order provolone?

one of the "Big Three" cheesesteak cheeses, along with American and -- no, I am not making this up -- Cheez Whiz! But it's an Italian name, not English, so I guess not. :sarcasm:

[KamaAina]

59. Update: He actually did order provolone!

http://www.nj.com/news/sunbeam/local/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1191304378275840.xml&coll=9

"I come here all the time," Giuliani said before ordering a provolone wit' at the South Philly eatery, after a day-long tour through New Jersey.

Funny, no one at Geno's threw him out for saying an Italian word... IOKIYAR! :P

[armodem08]

45. PANDER!!!! n/t

[crim son]

48. I haven't either liked or respected the man, but I haven't actually

disliked him before this. Now I do.

[formercia]

49. Have some Cheese Whiz, Rudi...

He gets more attention...


Ignore the asshole.

[antonialee839]

54. I'd suggest that Rudy

visit Jim's Steaks at 4th and South, however, I'd rather see him eat a piece of greasy shoe leather from
Geno's.

[Snarkturian Clone]

56. Let me tell y'all something.

When I am forced to choose either Pat's or Geno's (I have my own place i go to but when friends visit they want one of these), I choose Geno's based on their cheesesteak quality alone. They could have swastikas and burning crosses all over the place and I'd probably still pick them.

Pat's steaks sit on the griddle in water and turn grey by the time you get them. Geno's freshly cooks the steak. Big diff. Better cheese too.

As I parenthesized before, I have my own favorite cheesesteak location (street vendor at Broad & Spruce). If this location killed my entire extended family, I would still patronize them.

[Contrary1]

58. Wish I could put the puke image in the subject line...

http://www.genosteaks.com/home1.html

[Xenotime]

62. What a racist.

[sofa king]

63. Or as the owner's grandparents would have said, "parli prego inglese."

That is, if Babelfish speaks both languages correctly.