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Cheese Steaks and the Language Barrier
Geno's Steaks, Philadelphia, PA
Immigration reform has been a major issue in recent months. One of the implications of a large immigrant class, especially one crossing our southern border, is that many many have trouble becoming part of American culture. One fiery Italian American decided to do something about the language divide. Joe Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks, and son of two Italian immigrants, posted a sign in his store window reading "This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING SPEAK ENGLISH" As a result, the city of Philadelphia is waging a legal war against Vento for discrimination.
"Speak English" sign
Is Vento really violating a law? Understandably, there are laws in place to protect from discrimination of public accommodations, but is asking customers to communicate in one language a crime? After all, non-English speakers in and of themselves are not a protected class of people under the 14th Amendment. Without encouraging immigrants to learn the majority language in the United States, their assimilation will be prolonged. They will not become fully functional citizens and take part in the national dialogue until they are able to speak and understand the majority language.
Joe Vento was having a communication problem and since the state was unwilling to do something about it, he took matters into his own hands. And though his method may have been blunt, forcing assimilation might make American society more cohesive.