Theodore's World

When I worked in the restaurant business many years ago, I got tired of trying to figure out what the customers wanted if they didn't speak english. I finally had them point to what they wanted on a picture we kept under the counter. I got so tired of them getting mad over getting the wrong item or it having something on it they didn't want and stiffing me my tip!
No one coddle our ancestors when they came here! They had to learn english or they didn't make it--plain and simple.
Time for us to do the same to those who don't even try. There is no shame in trying and failing, but you have to get back on the horse and try again and keep trying until you get it right.
Speak what you want at home--no one is taking that away from you. But in the real world of America, english is the language.
Bette Midler's character in Big Business said something that has stuck with me since I heard it, "You're in America now, speak American!" Funny but true.

The vote should have been a unanimous 3-0 in favor of the signs, but in this day and age of political correctness this result is good enough.

Joe Vento has a right to run his business the way he wants to. It is not his obligation to understand dozens of foreign languages. Joe has a great fighting spirit and I am glad he finally prevailed. I sure would like to try one of his cheesesteak sandwiches.

Lynn. If you were a waitress then I know you were a hard working gal. I can understand your frustration with people who do not have even a grasp of English. And then to blame you for any mistake is just wrong.

And since when can't a business refuse service to someone who is disorderly or drunk this happens all the time.

It is a private business afterall. There are plenty of lawsuits complaining that a Bartender gave some drunk too many drinks and that caused an accident.

This is typical government intervention trying to blame somebody else for the drunks actions.

So now the drunk sues the corner store for selling him the beer or wine, this is nuts. These left wing nitwits want to remove all responsibility from the personal actions of a few.

Absolutely!!! Thanks Lynn.

The wife and I had a very late breakfast last Monday at a restaurant I used to frequent near the port, I was a regular there for breakfast while I worked at the fabrication yard nearby. It's a hard core working class place, English spoken only!!! Nothing has changed in over 20 years, same good food, a different waitress still doing the work of two and keeping her sense of humor. Thanks for being a waitress Lynn, I do know what you had to put up with. I've worked with many ethnic backgrounds, I have been called in and counselled for being racist and callous, I had one person who I quit answering questions for, I'd just point to the Websters on the shelf anytime the lazy bum would ask an assinine question. I have all the time in the world for someone trying their best to learn but zero tolerance for the slackers.

The fact that speaking English only has become a legal battle shows how far this country has drifted off course. The way things are going, I can envision situations where English won't be allowed and perfectly legal with the support of the ACLU.

Lynn, you know first hand how it isi, thanks for sharing about that. And that was a good movie, and a good line from it too by Bette Midler. Perfect for this.

Tom, I agree, he was so exicted when I heard him on the talk show. He read the papers from the court and the whole thing. I am so happy for him and what a shame he even had to be put through any of this.

Mark, it is so wrong and your right about it being all government intervention.

When I had my gift shop in Calif. I had a sign on the wall by the check out desk. That I could and would refuse service to anyone signed Management. haha Thank God no one caused a fuss. I never had touse it but I would have if something needed to be done.

Jack,yes I can understand that. When a person is trying to learn it makes a difference.

Les, yes that sure could happen.

I just don't get it, there are tons of other languages of immigrants and all the rest want to learn English. Only Spanish has been the problem one. Maybe they have a big lobbyist thing or something, it is just wrong.