Friday, December 21, 2007

Please speak English

"This is America, when ordering please speak English"

The Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights - which is a joke in and of itself - decided that this was a sign that made non-English speakers feel as if their business was unwanted. First of all, isn't a private business rightfully able to refuse service to whomever it wishes? The PCHR couldn't actually find any witnesses who were refused service, so they brought some in who said they felt it may make people feel uncomfortable. Second, if you can't speak English, how do you know what the sign says?

Finally, according to the Uniform Crime Reports — Philadelphia, PA 2001-2006 certified by the Philadelphia Police Research & Planning Unit on 07.27.07, there were 406 murders, almost 11,000 robberies, 10,500 aggravated assaults, 11, 500 burglaries, 39,500 thefts and 11,600 motor vehicle thefts in 2006. Shouldn't Philadelphia be more concerned with people's lifes and well being, than whether some small sign at a cheesesteak place "requests" that people order in English?

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