Posted on 10/12/2005 6:33:36 AM PDT by Millicent_Hornswaggle
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has ruled a sign in the window of a southwest Ohio tavern declaring, "For Service, Speak English," is discriminatory.
The panel said Thursday the Pleasure Inn on U.S. 42 in Mason, northeast of Cincinnati, violated the state civil rights law.
Commission spokeswoman Christia Alou White said the tavern could be ordered to remove the sign, to pay for advertisements about nondiscrimination, and its staff could be ordered to undergo diversity training or cultural sensitivity training.
The business has 10 days to ask the commission to reconsider. The tavern owner's lawyer declined to comment.
Ohio law says it is unlawful for any proprietor of a place of public accommodation to deny the full enjoyment of the accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or ancestry.
The commission said the English-only rule serves no purpose other than to discriminate against non-English speaking individuals.
Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a Mount Auburn-based agency that handles fair-housing issues for eight counties, including Warren, where the tavern is located, filed a complaint with the commission in July after callers complained.
"I really think it's an affront to Hispanic families in the area, and I'm glad that the commission agreed that it's illegal discrimination," said Elizabeth Brown, HOME's executive director.
Ms White needs to "order" a beer and chill out. In English.
Hmmmm ... how about a sign that says "I don't speak Spanish, I speak English!"
Let the official idiotarians find some way to twist that declarative statement into a civil rights issue.
I dare them.
Change the sign to read "For Service please Speak English correctly, I am hard of hearing,"
That said with a medical disability they cannot go after him.
Un sandwich de jamon y una cerveza por favor?
I don't see how the sign breaks the law. "Language" isn't mentioned anywhere in there. If I show up and start speaking Finnish, I don't suddenly become part of a protected class -- do I?
What about free speech?
What about Choice?
What about equality? (Everyone speak english equally)
What about freedom of association?
What about the right to refuse service to whoever you wish?
How about telling them to STFU!
I will no longer go to my local subway sandwich shop. They have been invaded by mexican economic terrosists who do not know what "Six Inch Roast Beef Sub on White, Just Pickles, Please." means.
This is what we end up with!
How about a sign that says "I would like to help you out, which way did you come in?" in spanish.
I've visited Mexico several times, and have no problems with ordering a beer or food in spanish. It's not hard to learn a few words to get by when visiting a foreign land.
Asking customers to speak english to get served is not racist. There's no reason that businesses need to train their employees to speak other languages. Language is not race.
If the bar is discriminating on the basis of race, then there is a problem, but this sign does not prove that.
"Commission spokeswoman Christia Alou White said the tavern could be ordered to remove the sign, to pay for advertisements about nondiscrimination, and its staff could be ordered to undergo diversity training or cultural sensitivity training."
Requiring them to pay for advertisments about nondiscrimination violates their freedom of speech.
Ordering people to go to diversity or sensitivity training is a waste of time and money. Prohibiting illegal acts is appropriate. Fines may also be appropriate.
If Ms. White thinks the comission can order the tavern to pay for advertisments she obviously doesn't understand the meaning of civil rights and should be fired.
Obvious solution:
Bilingual sign?
"We Speak English Here / Nos Hablamos Ingles"
Ms Brown should relocate to a spanish speaking country and DEMAND the locals speak english.
And how pray tell are they going to enforce this order? Reeducation at the point of a gun for American citizens?
Did the local newspapers report this story in "Spanish"? If not they too are "racist".
Miz White, read my lips, "if someone comes in and orders in a language I don't understand, how do I serve them? hmmmmm" It's rally not complicated at all is it, Miz White?
They will order the business owner to have his personnel trained. If he refuses they will fine him or order his business closed. If he refuses to comply, yes, they will come with guns.
Exactly.
The Commission did not identify one individual who was discriminated against.
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