Seems like it takes the Italians to point the way. First, we had Christopher Columbus. Now, we have Joseph Vento.
Columbus alerted the world to the existence of America. Vento is alerting his world to necessity of speaking America's language.
(OK, OK - you're right. Columbus didn't know where he was going and didn't know where he was when he got here, but leave it alone. I've got something going here, so don't mess it up!)
In case you haven't heard about Vento, whose story made the news last week, he's the owner of Geno's Steaks, the world famous Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant. Geno's is not really a typical restaurant. It's a walk-up-and-order place. You tell the man at the window (usually, Vento or one of his family) how you want your sandwich, pay for it and take it somewhere else to eat. Or, you can sit at one of a couple of tables outside the restaurant.
Vento taped a sign on his restaurant's window about six months ago. The sign, with an eagle against a deep blue background, in white letters edged by red, reads: "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING 'SPEAK ENGLISH.'"
Whoa!
Vento, like his fellow Italian Columbus, is exploring some pretty hostile territory.
The sandwich-maker's grandparents emigrated to the U.S. from Italy a few decades back. Vento is an American citizen and he's not hesitant to exercise his constitutional rights to free speech - in strongly flavored Philadelphia English.
He offers a couple of reasons for refusing to serve customers who can't order in English. His business is fast-paced, he says, and he can't waste time explaining ingredients to people who don't speak English. Geno's serves dozens and dozens of made-to-order cheesesteak sandwiches every hour and speed is crucial.
"If you can't tell me what you want, I can't serve you," Vento told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's up to you. If you can't read, if you can't say the word 'cheese,' how can I communicate with you - and why should I have to bend? I got a business to run."
Another reason he gives is that most immigrants come to this country for financial reasons - they want to create a better life through the American economy.
That's fine, Vento says. But if they come here unable to speak the language, they're on the losing end of the stick right away. They won't get the jobs that will pay enough money to give them an American lifestyle.
Vento resents efforts to provide Spanish translations for so many situations. He hates dialing a phone number and being asked to "push 1 for English; push 2 for Spanish." Which number should he push for Italian, or French, or German, he asks rhetorically? Why, when he goes into a Mexican section of town, doesn't he see signs translated into English?
His message is striking a chord with many Americans - natural-born or naturalized. More people than he ever guessed are supporting him. They just don't have the audacity to express themselves the way he did.
"I say what everybody's thinking, but is afraid to say," Vento said.
He also has his detractors. They've made vicious comments about Vento and his sign and - as is the American way - they're voting with their wallets, and buying their cheesesteak sandwiches from Vento's largest competitor. That's fair, the Geno's founder says.
A Philadelphia City Councilman has asked Vento to take down the sign. He won't. He just shakes his head in disbelief at all the furor he's caused. Immigrants who want to preserve their culture and language should stay in their own countries, he says.
"I don't want somebody coming here to change my culture to their culture," Vento said. "They want us to adapt to these people. What do you mean, 'Press 1 for Spanish'? English, period. Case closed. End of discussion. You better make it the official language."
Anyone want to take a trip to Philadelphia next weekend -- visit Independence Hall, see the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross house? We could pick up a cheesesteak for lunch.
Lee Raynor is editor of KinsonPress.com. She can be reached (between bites of Geno's sandwiches) at 361-7530, or at
leeraynor@kinstonpress.com.
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