Tempest in a Steak Shop 1
Here in the greater Philadelphia Co-Prosperity Sphere, there’s been a nice little fuss about the properitor of Geno’s steaks (as in cheese steaks) refusing to serve persons who do not order in English.
Vento, 66, grinned his way through a five-minute segment Friday on ABC’s Good Morning America. Since The Inquirer first reported on his signs two weeks ago, he has appeared left and right – though, politically, always the latter – on the Web, TV and talk radio as a proud, tattooed advocate of English only for the nation’s immigrants.
I have no wish to get into a philosophical discussion of this–it’s been beat to death (though I will point out that my ancestors, when they arrived here, already spoke English; had they thought like this gentleman, they would not have allowed his ancestors to make landfall).
My question is this:
When did rudeness become patriotism?
June 11, 2006 at 8:45 pm
I heard this story while on the road and I still don’t understand the issue. If nobody behind the counter understands the language the customer is speaking, having a sign saying you won’t serve people who can’t speak English is redundant. I’m honestly lost. What am I missing here?