High Steaks and the Low Road

Seriously -- Can't We All Just Get Along?

FIRST THINGS first: Joey Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, one of the lamer tourist-trap cheesesteak joints in our fair city, is not completely wrong in posting a sign that tells his customers: "This is America. When ordering speak English." Generations of immigrants -- including my ancestors -- have come to the United States and learned the language here in order to become functioning citizens. It's just the way it is, and as a nation, it makes us stronger to have a common language.

As with so many things, though, it's not the what, it's the how and the why. I seriously doubt that Geno's is at all interested in strengthening the citizenship and nationalism of Philadelphians. When you consider that the place continues, in 2006, to sell "Freedom Fries," Vento's nasty elitism is simply ethnic discrimination. I'm sure I'm not the first to have these thoughts, and I've been out of town, so I'm catching up this late, but I'd be mighty surprised if he hasn't flailed back by accusing his detractors of political correctness, the last refuge of the racist. And how nice that Philadelphia, home to so many immigrants from so many corners of the earth, the place where the words "All ... are created equal" were written, the city where the very notion of America was born, now looks like nothing more than a reactionary hick town where fear has replaced welcoming.

And, geez, from a business perspective, whatever happened to the customer always being right? Or to the power of the almighty dollar? You could argue that those concepts are even more American than English. As Rick Nichols reported in the Inquirer last week, the South Philly Mexicans Geno's is targeting with its distasteful bile "may feel more welcome at Tony Luke's, the steakery at Front and Oregon that denounced Geno's 'xenophobia' on Monday, inviting 'patrons of all nations whether or not they speak a "wit" of English.'" One wonders whether it's a coincidence or not that Tony Luke's sandwiches are soooooo much better than Geno's are.

Comments

[bill]

Agreed TD. I wonder if a little old Italian woman would be forced to order in English?

[Texas Truth]

Joey Vento is the owner of Geno’s Steaks. That means it is HIS business and he can do wherever he likes. If some immigrant can't order his/her lunch in the way that is prescribed, I guess he/she doesn’t eat at Geno's. I know there are other places in Philadelphia to eat. Some of the bleeding heart liberals just don't get it. Kudos to Joey. I understand no one is turned away. If they can’t order in English, then someone is there to TEACH them the proper way to order. Joey has a great deal of support out here. I have a post at my blog about this and other issues

Please feel free to stop by and read my perspective on this and other issues.

http://texastruth.blogspot.com

[George S]

I do not know Mr Vento, so I would not presume to understand his motives enough to call him a racist or an elitist. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt when he cites his reasons for his policy. There are native English speakers all over the world, from virtually every racial group, from Singapore to Bermuda to India to the Philippines to South Africa. Requiring English has nothing to do with race. Nor does it indicate that you are an American or highly educated. It might be unfair to recent immigrants or foreign tourists, but if you’re a racist or an elitist English is probably the last language you should insist on.
As for making service conditional on speaking English (the national language):
I do know that I can go to restaurants that will refuse me service because I’m wearing a tank top or beach sandals.
I do know that I can go to a golf course and be refused service for not wearing a collared shirt.
I do know that I can go to businesses that will refuse me service if I try to pay with a $50 dollar bill or small change, both of which are clearly defined as legal tender.
Will the US Postal Service accept mail with the address written in a foreign language that doesn't use an Anglicized alphabet (Chinese, Hebrew, etc)? I doubt it.

In all of these cases the business management has decided on the policies that they prefer, none of which are related to health or safety. It is their prerogative to manage their business the way they see fit, to make it more efficient, or profitable, or simply to project the image that they want to be identified with. I am free to follow their policy or take my business elsewhere. Whether you agree with him or not, Mr Vento has the same right and should not be condemned for exercising that right.

[Matt]

I agree that businesses should be allowed to run their own business how they see fit. (This is the one thing that I don't like about the various smoking bans being enacted throughout the country and, finally, right here in Philadelphia.) If an owner wishes to serve only people that can speak in English, fine -- that's his/her right.

However, there was a time in this country when business owners were allowed to refuse service to patrons based solely on the color of their skin. Thankfully, the time for that has passed. Hopefully, this English-only nonsense will pass, too.

The sad part in all of this is how quickly everyone has picked a side and drawn their line in the sand. It's said that attitude reflects leadership and I suppose nowhere is that more evident than in this country with its current leadership. We have a leader who says "You're either with us or you're against us." Well, that doesn't leave a whole lot of options for what actually takes place in the real world, does it?

I don't know. Does a national language make sense? In many ways, yes, it does. On the other hand, in perhaps the greatest document ever written, there is not one word about a national language to unify the people. Our founders were smart enough to instill in us that the greatest unifier of this, the greatest of countries, is the most simple idea of all -- that we're all Americans.

200+ years later and it's still not enough.

[Tom Durso]

Thanks, all, for your thoughtful comments. Let me be clear about one thing: I agree completely that Joey Vento should be permitted to run his business however his likes, so long as it's legal. I don't think the government should step in, nor do I think the Human Relations Commission should intervene, as is being discussed. Geno's is a private business, and Mr. Vento should be accorded every right to conduct it how he wishes.

And, George, you're right -- throwing around words like racist and elitist doesn't help anything, especially when I know next to nothing about the person I'm writing about. Mea culpa.

All of that said, I disagree that I don't have the right to complain about policies I find objectionable, regardless of their legality. The Geno's sign is perfectly legal, and he should have every right to post it. But that doesn't mean I have to like it, or support its message. After all, as Mr. Vento might say, this is America.

[Chris Durso]

T-- Very gracious of you to compliment everyone's "thoughtful comments" while politely ignoring Texas Truth's (1) shill for his own blog and (2) hilariously on-message swipe at "bleeding heart liberals [who] just don't get it." Godwin's Law, anyone?

[medical fetish]

Doesn`t matter what you say, but how...!! But you said it well http://gay-fetish.iespana.es/