http://news.aol.com/story/_a/speak-e...00010000000001

Well, this guy in Philadelphia has signs in his restauaunt that reads "This is America. When ordering please speak English" Well, someone threw a fit and took it to the city concil, who voted in favor of the sign.

I think I know what the majority is going to say, but what do you think? Should the sign remain up? Had the board decidied otherwise, would it be an example of political correctness gone too far? Any other thoughts?

I try to be politically correct, but I think this guy's doing the right thing. The majority of people in this country speak English. The minority should conform. I know that when the huge immigrations happened in the 1910s-20s, almost none of those people could speak English. But, unlike today, they had to learn it. Today immigrants seem to expect us to conform to them, as compared to the other way around. This sign is a win for waiters and English-speakers everywhere.

In America we speak English.

Don't like it? Leave.

Glad to hear someone isn't laying down and taking this crap. Good post.

Originally Posted by pixiedustboo

In America we speak English.

Don't like it? Leave.

Glad to hear someone isn't laying down and taking this crap. Good post.

My thoughts exactly!

No... because English is an international language. That means a lot.

I think he should keep it up. The waitors probably don't speak spanish anyways.

Before I vote I have a question:

Does the USA have an official language (As he has used the term "America" we would be looking for a federal law here not a state one)?

- Obviously if the answer is yes and its English then he can keep the signs.
- If the answer is no then he should take them down because they would be incorrect.

The final answer has nothing to do with whats politically correct or incorrect but more about what is factually correct.

It really comes down to a matter of manners. In my career as a Merchant seaman I went to many countries, and unfortunately there were many where I was not there long enough to learn more than one or two words.

But if I had time to go ashore, the first thing I did was to learn a few basic phrases of the local language. Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Hello, Goodbye, Please, Thank you, it's not hard.

I may have murdered their language, but I always tried to use it, usually in these cases the locals just dissolved into peals of laughter and they resorted to English. In many countries I became quite proficient, even if very limited.

If you are a tourist there is an excuse, but never the less you should try to speak the local language wherever you can, if you are resident, learn the language and use it.

It all comes down to good manners.

Originally Posted by MontyB

Before I vote I have a question:

Does the USA have an official language (As he has used the term "America" we would be looking for a federal law here not a state one)?

- Obviously if the answer is yes and its English then he can keep the signs.
- If the answer is no then he should take them down because they would be incorrect.

The final answer has nothing to do with whats politically correct or incorrect but more about what is factually correct.

We need another law for which know as common sense? Great. Maybe if they make it "official" we won't have to press "1" for English.

I personally support the following idea: "Press 1 for English, Press 2 to return to ****ing Mexico." I am all for immigrants. Legal ones. Conform, support; or deport, they have choice.

No you don't need a law to speak English but you do need one to make his sign correct.

For example he could put up a sign to say "This is my establishment and orders will only be taken in English"

But he can not make that claim for all of "America" unless it is your official language.

I am not arguing that people should not try and speak the language of the country they reside in I firmly believe that it is the responsibility to immigrants and visitors to assimilate to their chosen environment but that still does not make his sign correct (unless English is the official language).

Hell all you have to do to get me to vote that he can keep his signs is tell me that English is the official language of the country, I don't disagree with his sentiments or the point he is trying to make but without a law the sign is incorrect.

No, it is not the official language, but there need not be a written law to make it so. Look at England, half of their laws are simply tradition, the Prime Minister as a formal position evolved without much, if any, written laws. All official documents are in English, when debating on the floor of Congress the members speak English, to become a US citizen a person is required to learn English. It is the official language in every way that matters, tradition matters as much as the written law in certain instances. If I go to France I don't expect every one there to speak English and if I go to Mexico I don't look forward to every person understanding me perfectly. This is America and we do speak English, we fought a war with France to make sure it stayed that way too.