Questions for the Thought Police at the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and The Cincinnati Enquirer
Item–A tavern owner faces sanctions for his “For Service, Speak English” sign:
A tavern owner near Cincinnati is vowing not to take down a window sign that declares, “For Service, Speak English.”
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission ruled this week that the sign at the Pleasure Inn in Mason (Ohio) violates state discrimination laws and creates an affront to Hispanics.
But tavern owner Tom Ullum says the sign is meant to be tongue in cheek. He says he has Mexican customers all the time and he doesn’t discriminate.
Questions for The OCRC:
- Do you know of any instance where Mr. Ullum has failed to serve a customer who does not speak English? (information appearing in the editorial below indicates that there are none–Ed.)
- What makes you assume that Mr. Ullum is only “creating an affront” to Hispanics, and not every person in the whole wide world who doesn’t speak English?
- Are you going to start going after manufacturing and distribution companies that, for safety reasons, have requirements that employees be fluent in English?
- Are you going to force retailers to hire people who only speak a non-English language, and thereby force customers who only speak English to endure customer-service nightmares?
- How many languages does a person need to understand before you will deign to allow him or her to go into or stay in business?
From a Cincinnati Enquirer October 8 editorial entitled “‘Speak English’ a sign of bigotry” (HT to the R-Rated WhistleBlower):
The commission wrote that Ullum said he does not discriminate against anyone, but believes immigrants who live in the country should learn to speak English.
Ullum has a right to his opinion, and there are plenty of others who share his philosophy, but placing a sign on a window sends a hostile message.
If he truly does not discriminate, why did he put up a sign making it clear that non-English-speaking people aren’t welcome in his bar? He could prove he doesn’t discriminate, embracing the change going on in his community, by hiring a bilingual employee. That might even attract more business for him.
Questions for The Enquirer:
- Since you acknowledge that the OCRC could not find that Ullum actually discriminated against anyone, exactly what does he have to “prove”?
- It’s so nice of you to be so free with Mr. Ullum’s money and so concerned about his marketing. On the safe assumption that Mr. Ullum as a small business has all the employees he can afford, who do you suggest that he fire so that he can take on this bilingual employee you are recommending?
- (New question, 4:15 PM) It’s so sporting of you to acknowledge Mr. Ullum’s “right to his opinion.” Based on your position in this case, exactly where and how does he have a right to express it without incurring your wrath?
Questions for the OCRC, the Enquirer, and all of you who support them:
- Which one of you will pay for Mr. Ullum’s legal costs if he serves the wrong food or drink to an allergic non-English-speaking person he or one of his employees couldn’t understand?
- How long will it be until you require public employees (or anyone for that matter) to be bilingual to keep their jobs? (Item: Some Dallas Principals Must Learn Spanish)
- How long will it be until I have to order my food at Wendy’s in Spanish (which I speak passably, in case you care), so as not to force the Hispanics waiting on me to endure the agony of learning English?
- Do you really think that anyone who believes, as Mr. Ullum does (and as I do), that “immigrants who live in the country should learn to speak English” is a guilty of unlawful discrimination and bigotry, even though he does not discriminate?
________________
UPDATE: Oct. 9–The Kirk is on a roll. Oct. 13–I mean, really on a roll.
Thought Tax In Ohio?
Thought crimes. Now the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is looking for new funding for their advertising. Apparently the opportunity came from an Ohio Tavern owner’s sign which says, “For Service, Speak English.”
Bizzy Blog has some in…
Trackback by Conservative Culture — October 9, 2005 @ 6:14 pm
Every non-tourist, legal resident should speak the official language, English, or be making every effort to assimilate and learn English. If you’re not legal, you have no legal right to be in the U.S. That should be fairly self evident; but it does have to be spelled out to some.
Regardless of legal status, suspected illegals (not committing a violent criminal act) deserves to be treated with respect and dignity until such time legal proceedings deport said individuals. Basically the same thing a U.S. citizen would expect in a foreign country. Our situation is compounded by the blatant dereliction of duty by the Federal government in controling our borders.
Having said all that, it seems the tavern owner is either dumb or ‘dumber’.
Dumb:
The tavern owner thought that non-English speaking patrons would be able to understand a sign written in English?
Dumber:
The sign was for the ‘consumption’ of his English speaking patrons.
The disenfectant properties of sunshine (local news stories) probably would have been enough shame for the tavern owner to learn the errors of his ‘advertisement’ and the OCRC overreacted with political correctness.
Comment by Porkopolis — October 9, 2005 @ 7:25 pm
Today, class, we will try to make sense of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Editorial on Saturday, October 8, 2005, headlined “‘Speak English’ a sign of bigotry.”
Enquirer link
People should denounce bigotry - or the perception of bigotry - as soon as it raises its head because of the ugly stain it leaves on a community.
Main Entry: big·ot·ry
Pronunciation: ‘bi-g&-trE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ries
1 : the state of mind of a bigot
2 : acts or beliefs characteristic of a bigot
Main Entry: big·ot
Pronunciation: ‘bi-g&t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, hypocrite, bigot
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices
- big·ot·ed /-g&-t&d/ adjective
- big·ot·ed·ly adverb
Dictionary: Bigot
We expect no less from the progressive citizens of Mason and elsewhere concerning Tom Ullum’s sign in the front window of the Pleasure Inn on U.S. 42. Pleasure Inn (513) 398-5976 112 E Main St Mason, OH 45040
In block letters, it reads: “FOR SERVICE SPEAK ENGLISH.” Can non-English-speaking people even understand what they’re reading?
Housing Opportunities Made Equal, the Mount Auburn-based fair-housing advocate, filed a complaint about the sign in July with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. HOME believes the sign was aimed at Hispanics.
The commission took action this week, saying Pleasure Inn engaged in “discriminatory practices” by posting the sign. The business has 10 days to ask the commission to reconsider its ruling. If the ruling stands, Ullum could be ordered to remove the sign, pay for ads about nondiscrimination, and his staff could be ordered to undergo sensitivity training,
The Thought Police (thinkpol in Newspeak) was the secret police of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four whose job it was to uncover and punish thoughtcrime. The Thought Police used psychology and omnipresent surveillance to find and eliminate members of society who were capable of the mere thought of challenging ruling authority.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_police
Commission spokeswoman Christia Alou White said. Though the sign itself doesn’t prohibit anyone from entering the Inn, the prejudice against those who don’t speak English is clear.
Main Entry: 1prej·u·dice
Pronunciation: ‘pre-j&-d&s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praejudicium previous judgment, damage, from prae- + judicium judgment — more at JUDICIAL
1 : injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one’s rights; especially : detriment to one’s legal rights or claims
2 a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge b : an instance of such judgment or opinion c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics
synonym see PREDILECTION
From 2000 to 2004, the Hispanic population in Warren County increased nearly 55 percent, from 1,652 to 2,558.
In Butler County, the population rose nearly 44 percent from 4,796 to 6,891. The 2000 Census showed Hispanics are the largest minority in the nation.
“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,” Elizabeth Brown, executive director of HOME, told The Enquirer.
Main Entry: 1af·front
Pronunciation: &-’fr&nt
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English afronten, from Middle French afronter to defy, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin affrontare, from Latin ad- + front-, frons forehead
1 a : to insult especially to the face by behavior or language b : to cause offense to
2 a : to face in defiance : CONFRONT b obsolete : to encounter face-to-face
3 : to appear directly before
synonym see OFFEND
It was not that long ago that non-English-speaking people migrated here from the far corners of the world - Italy, Germany, Spain, Romania - to build new lives. That diversity has always made this country great. Today, any law-abiding, productive resident should feel welcome to build a life here free of discrimination.
Main Entry: 1res·i·dent
Pronunciation: ‘re-z&-d&nt, ‘rez-d&nt, ‘re-z&-”dent
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin resident-, residens, present participle of residEre
1 a : living in a place for some length of time : RESIDING b : serving in a regular or full-time capacity ; also : being in residence
2 : PRESENT, INHERENT
3 : not migratory
Main Entry: 1alien
Pronunciation: ‘A-lE-&n, ‘Al-y&n
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin alienus, from alius
1 a : belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing : STRANGE b : relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government : FOREIGN
2 : differing in nature or character typically to the point of incompatibility
Main Entry: cit·i·zen
Pronunciation: ’si-t&-z&n also -s&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of Old French citeien, from cité city
1 : an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a : a member of a state b : a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3 : a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state
- cit·i·zen·ly /-z&n-lE also -s&n-/ adjective
synonyms CITIZEN, SUBJECT, NATIONAL mean a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state. CITIZEN is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people . SUBJECT implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch . NATIONAL designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state .
The commission wrote that Ullum said he does not discriminate against anyone, but believes immigrants who live in the country should learn to speak English.
Main Entry: dis·crim·i·nate
Pronunciation: dis-’kri-m&-”nAt
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -nat·ed; -nat·ing
Etymology: Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare, from discrimin-, discrimen distinction, from discernere to distinguish between — more at DISCERN
transitive senses
1 a : to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of b : DISTINGUISH, DIFFERENTIATE
2 : to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences; especially : to distinguish from another like object
intransitive senses
1 a : to make a distinction b : to use good judgment
2 : to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit
Ullum has a right to his opinion, and there are plenty of others who share his philosophy, but placing a sign on a window sends a hostile message.
Main Entry: hos·tile
Pronunciation: ‘häs-t&l, -”tIl
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin hostilis, from hostis
1 a : of or relating to an enemy b : marked by malevolence
c : openly opposed or resisting d : not hospitable
2 a : of or relating to the opposing party in a legal controversy
b : adverse to the interests of a property owner or corporation management
If he truly does not discriminate, why did he put up a sign making it clear that non-English-speaking people aren’t welcome in his bar?
Main Entry: 2own
Function: verb
transitive senses
1 a : to have or hold as property : POSSESS b : to have power over : CONTROL
Main Entry: 1con·trol
Pronunciation: k&n-’trOl
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): con·trolled; con·trol·ling
Etymology: Middle English controllen, from Middle French contreroller, from contrerolle copy of an account, audit, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus, from Latin contra- + Medieval Latin rotulus roll — more at ROLL
1 a archaic : to check, test, or verify by evidence or experiments b : to incorporate suitable controls in
2 a : to exercise restraining or directing influence over : REGULATE b : to have power over : RULE c : to reduce the incidence or severity of especially to innocuous levels
Main Entry: 1de fac·to
Pronunciation: di-’fak-(”)tO, dA-, dE-
Function: adverb
Etymology: Medieval Latin, literally, from the fact
: in reality : ACTUALLY
Main Entry: so·cial·ism
Pronunciation: ’sO-sh&-”li-z&m
Function: noun
1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done
He could prove he doesn’t discriminate, embracing the change going on in his community, by hiring a bilingual employee. That might even attract more business for him.
Communication will never occur if one side refuses to participate in the conversation. Area religious services and a local television station know this. They have provided Spanish-speaking translators and newscasts.
Anyone who wants to succeed in the United States would do well to learn English. But while they are learning and assimilating, their new neighbors need to support them with communication, not hostility.
Main Entry: hos·til·i·ty
Pronunciation: hä-’sti-l&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
1 a : deep-seated usually mutual ill will b (1) : hostile action (2) plural : overt acts of warfare : WAR
2 : conflict, opposition, or resistance in thought or principle
synonym see ENMITY
Now write an essay on your rights as a business owner in these United States today.
– Will duRANT IV
Comment by Will duRANT IV — October 10, 2005 @ 7:36 pm
[…] y by a small part of society? A: No but there should be! Tom Blumer said it best in his questions to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission” * Do you know of any instance where Mr. Ullum has fail […]
Pingback by NixGuy.com » Blog Archive » I have a right not to be offended! — October 16, 2005 @ 3:38 pm
[…] October 18, 2005 The English Language BizzyBlog is defending an Ohio tavern owner who has gotten into trouble for a “For Service, Speak English” sign. […]
Pingback by A Special Report on Immigration - Beyond Borders Blog » The English Language — October 18, 2005 @ 10:53 pm
[…] bounds.” A big hat tip to Bizzyblog for it’s excellent coverage on this issue here, here and here. Technorati Tags: Immigration Politics
Filed in: Immigration |
No Comm […]
Pingback by Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » For Service, Speak English — December 20, 2005 @ 2:24 pm
Was past The Pleasure Inn yesterday, and Tom has a new sign now: “To Be Served You Must Be Legal”
Comment by Charlie York — April 29, 2006 @ 4:10 pm