House of Eratosthenes

On Friday, I wrote about the unfolding situation out in Philadelphia involving Joey Vento, 66, owner of Geno’s Steaks, one of the city’s most popular cheesesteak eateries. Mr. Vento has put up a little sign on the front of his shop that says when you’re ordering, please speak English. This appears to have become an issue in the neighborhood lately, as prospective patrons walk up and spew their nonsensical non-English syllables, expecting to get a hot sandwich. Actually I shouldn’t use the word “prospective,” as Mr. Vento says nobody has every been turned away over the policy, and nobody anywhere has taken the effort to contradict him. In point of fact, if you watch his interview from beginning to end, he seems to have a lot more open-mindedness and tolerance than a lot of the hard-left-wingers I know who hope to monopolize such positive human attributes.

Well, local busybody Rachel Lawton has announced that tonight or tomorrow, Geno’s Steaks is to be served with an official complaint for violating the city’s, um…oh, where is that article. Here it is. For violating the city’s “Fair Practices Ordinance.” The ordinance is supposed to prohibit discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing. And Lawton is the acting executive director of the city’s Commission on Human Relations.

Fair Practices Ordinance. Prohibits discrimination in public accommodations. That sounds pretty harmless, huh? Just remember this next time some anti-discrimination law comes up and your local busybody liberal demands to know how, oh pray tell how, could you vote against an anti-discrimination ordinance. Think of Joey Vento. Joey, and his little 8″x5″ or 11″x8�” or whatever it is, his little cardboard sign.

Can’t have that now. We have an ordinance.

Geno’s owner Joseph Vento posted two small signs at his shop in south Philadelphia proclaiming: “This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ‘PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH.'”

Lawton said that violates the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing. “It’s discouraging patronage by non-English speaking customers because of their national origin or ancestry,” Lawton said.

Vento, 66, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after arriving from Sicily in the 1920s, said Monday that he is not discriminating and has no intention of giving in. “I would say they would have to handcuff me and take me out because I’m not taking it down,” Vento said.

One more time, with feeling, all together now: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Does anyone with any authority anywhere give a rat’s ass what this amendment was originally intended to say anymore? I say Joey Vento should get a written apology from the Commission of Whateveritiz, or else big giant marble crosses should go up on every city hall and state supreme court, from sea to shining sea.

Watch this tomorrow morning…see what happens…

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ShowdownMonday, June 12th, 2006

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Monday, June 12th, 2006