By now you’ve probably heard about the drama unfolding in Philadelphia over the owner of Geno’s Steaks posting a sign that reads: “This is America - When ordering “SPEAK ENGLISH”"

Now the Philadelphia City Council is jumping in to defend some hypersensitive activists in the community.

A City Council member jumped into the debate over a sign at one of Philadelphia’s best-known cheesesteak joints that reads: “This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ‘SPEAK ENGLISH.’”

During the council’s meeting Thursday, Councilman Jim Kenney asked Geno’s owner Joseph Vento to take the small sign down. The English-only ordering sign has irritated some activists in the diverse neighborhood of South Philadelphia and drawn national attention.

“It’s such an iconic institution and business, one that is that visible for many of our residents, for the region and the world,” Kenney said.

Vento, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said his staff is glad to help non-native speakers order in English and no one has been turned away because of a language barrier.

“I don’t see much of a big deal about learning to say Cheez Whiz,” he told ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” on Friday.

Exactly. But why should we expect any less from hypersensitive liberals?

And, right on cue, here come the protests… a familiar tactic of the hypersensitive Left:

Juntos, a neighborhood organization that advocates for Latino communities, said it plans to send people to Geno’s to try to order in Spanish. Depending on what happens, the group may pursue court action, said Peter Bloom, the group’s director.

Depending on what happens? Give me a break! You’re going to send a bunch of paid protestors up to the counter to order in a language that is not native to the order taker, or his own country (try this in any other country and see how well it works), and expect him to accommodate?

How many languages do the liberals want him to have to learn in order to accommodate every hypersensitive liberal out there? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? You’re in his country, patronizing his store, buying his products… it’s YOUR responsibility to learn his language in order to transact. And if you can’t, he’s more than willing to pass on your business. Go somewhere else… pronto!

1. Vento is taking a step in the right direction. If everyone refused service to illegal aliens/people who REFUSE to learn OUR language, maybe they’d go back home. Yeah, right… We can only hope…

   Comment by newFan — 9:39 am
   

2. It’s his store, he should be allowed to sell to whomever he wants and not sell to whomever he wants.

   Although it’s probably a uneconomic business policy.

   Comment by Adriana — 10:28 am
   

3. I live in Philadelhia and I am an avid Geno’s fan….I back Joe 110%!

   Comment by Cerberus — 11:55 am
   

4. Try going to another country and arrogantly demand or expect that they speak your language, and you’ll likely be received as well as Ted Kennedy at a Kopechne family reunion!

   Comment by Jonathan — 7:24 pm
   

5. I thought most stores and restaraunts have the right to refuse service.

   You don’t speak enough english to order “cheeze wit” maybe you don’t needs to eat there.

   He is not descriminating based on race or color, he simply expects you to order in ENGLISH, the natural language of America - or hell, make the attempt at least.

   What happens when we have a country full of a mix of immigrant and illegals who do not speak languages they do not understand? We will have a separatists society; groups and blocks of people who refuse to assimilate and therefore create separate sections that wall themselves away from being Americans.

   They will expect all the services , demand it even, but refuse to learn the language.

   Comment by sanity — 3:42 am
   

6. What a brilliant protest! Lets all go down to Geno’s and give them some business…

   Hey I’m not going to do anything you say if you speak to me in Spanish, either… to protest you can go make a deposit in my bank account.

   Comment by Swaine Woodham — 2:17 pm
   

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