If You Don’t Speak English, Please Don’t Read This

by Chad Kent



In the background of this nation’s debate over illegal immigration lies another heated debate over the role the English language should play in the United States. Now, Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia is being thrust into the center of the controversy after owner Joey Vento placed a sign in the window that reads “This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE ‘SPEAK ENGLISH’”. Due to some very distorted reporting, it is important to note that Vento’s sign is merely requesting that customers speak English and not demanding it. This is a key distinction.


The city government in Philadelphia believes the opinion expressed by this sign is so controversial that its Commission on Human Relations has filed a complaint against Geno’s for violating the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance. This over-zealous and politically motivated complaint has been filed despite the fact that the city can’t point to a single individual who has been denied service for not speaking English.



Apparently, the Commission on Human Relations doesn’t have a whole lot to do if they have enough time to nit-pick Geno’s Steaks over something so minor. Joey Vento has every right to request that customers who patronize his restaurant order in a way that will allow him to understand what they want. It’s sad that a Philly landmark like Geno’s can be hassled to this extent just because a couple city employees want to make a political point. Even if they disagree with Vento’s point of view, they need to let the citizens of Philadelphia decide for themselves how they feel about the sign.



The owners of nearby competitor Pat’s King of Steaks have been very vocal about the fact that they would be more than happy to serve anyone who doesn’t speak English or who finds the sign at Geno’s offensive. If enough people refuse to eat at Geno’s then Mr. Vento will be forced to either take his sign down or risk losing his business. On the other hand, if Philadelphians continue to support Geno’s Steaks then people obviously don’t want the sign to be removed. Based on the results thus far, the people of Philadelphia overwhelmingly support Joey Vento’s position.



Nonetheless, critics of the sign have gone to great lengths to make this issue about racism and discrimination. However, Vento is simply doing the same thing that thousands of other business owners do every day. For example, it’s very common today to walk into a gas station and see signs indicating that no more than two students will be allowed in the store at one time.



If someone tried hard enough, he could come up with an argument claiming that these students are being unfairly judged based on their age alone. But it’s no secret that when a group of teenagers is in a store together there is a pretty good chance that the kids will find a way to create mischief. As a result, business owners aren’t being hostile towards students, but rather doing what they believe is necessary to protect their business.



Along the same lines, customers who don’t speak English can hold up lines while trying to point and use hand gestures to communicate what they want. At the busiest times of the day, these relatively minor delays can cause some significant problems. Certainly a restaurant owner who finds that non-English speaking customers are having a negative impact on his business has the right to ask that customers of all backgrounds place their orders in English.



In this entire controversy, the only people doing actual harm to immigrants are the liberal activists arguing that Vento’s sign is discriminatory. If the city is successful in forcing businesses to bend over backwards to accommodate non-English speaking customers, it will only make it easier for immigrants to remain in a situation that will never allow them to prosper. Unless a person in this country learns to speak English, he will have virtually no chance of working in anything but low paying jobs. Despite that, many “pro-immigrant” groups continue to insist that anyone who expects newcomers to the United States to learn to speak English is an intolerant supporter of discrimination.



Of course, this situation has absolutely nothing to do with discrimination (if for no other reason, because of the fact that no one has been denied service). This is about Joey Vento’s right to state his own opinions in the business he owns. If you don’t like his opinion, that’s fine; you can let him know by eating at Pat’s King of Steaks or writing a letter to the editor. The idea that the Commission on Human Relations would try to make this difference of opinion into a legal issue by filing an official complaint against Geno’s Steaks is completely outrageous.


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Chad Kent is a freelance writer and political commentator who lives in central Illinois.
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