City Of Brotherly Death At It Again
Not content with picking a meaningless and ultimately self-defeating fight with the Boy Scouts in Philadelphia, the city has now targeted a private citizen who , through his business taxes - contributes large sums of money to the city coffers. In the first case, Philadelphia is in the process of evicting the Boy Scouts - who serve mostly inner city youths and help divert at least some of them from a life of crime. No matter to the city. It is much more important to force the local council to lose its affiliation with the national organization and admit openly gay Scout leaders. Who cares about the kids? In the second case, Joe Vento, the owner of a cheese steak business, is being hounded over his posting of two signs asking customers to order their food in English.
Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, defended his policy before the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which filed the discrimination complaint.
"This country is a melting pot, but what makes it work is the English language," Vento told the commission. "I'm not stupid. I would never put a sign out to hurt my business."
Vento posted two small signs in October 2005 at his shop in a diverse South Philadelphia neighborhood, telling customers, "This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE 'SPEAK ENGLISH.'"
He said Friday that he posted the sign because of concerns over the debate on immigration reform and the increasing number of people from the area who could not order in English.
But he said he also wanted to keep the line moving at his busy store.
"The case should, without question, be dismissed," Vento attorney Shannon L. Goessling said. "There is a legitimate business purpose for this sign."
Paul M. Hummer, an attorney for the commission, testified earlier that the sign is not about political speech, but about "intimidation," and that it suggested business from certain individuals was not wanted.
Yep, gotta stop that old "coded" intimidation visible only to the far left or the political opportunistic class, Philly. Can't have that, now can we? Besides, the ruckus the city is raising over all these things distracts the people from that pesky murder rate in the city. Which, as of November, stood at more than one per day. It is imperative that the city government trash worthwhile organizations and private, taxpaying businessmen in order to distract people from their complete, utter failure to do the actual job they are paid for.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Saturday, 15 December , 2007 @ 12:48 am
Seems to me that Mr. Vento’s sign is just logic: What’s the ethnic make-up of Philly, beyond native English speakers? Puerto Ricans who speak mostly Spanish? Russians and Vietnamese for whom English is a second language? The only language his guys behind the counter may share with his customers is English. The sign may be “insensitive,” but it reflects reality.
By NortonPete, Saturday, 15 December , 2007 @ 7:17 am
Whenever I travel to a foreign country, the first thing I do is learn enough of the local language to order food. Its learning how to survive in a foreign land. I’m disappointed when the waiter switches to English because I feel I’ve failed my survival test.
Its even worse when the waiter/ess can speak better English than I do.
By ted goldman, Saturday, 15 December , 2007 @ 11:09 am
Who is ‘initimidated” by the Boy Scouts, or English speakers, other than politically correct fools?
By Uncle Pinky, Saturday, 15 December , 2007 @ 1:34 pm
NortonPete,
Food is important and comes in third, right after beer and bathroom.
By Bleepless, Saturday, 15 December , 2007 @ 8:46 pm
How are people going to be intimidated by a sign if they can’t read it?