Cheesesteaks and the Lack of a National Language

A good friend of mine sent my this link earlier today:

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/speak-english-signs-ok-at-philly-shop/20080320083809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
In short, a famous cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia put up signs saying that customers must order in English. The court ruling on the issue concluded that such a rule was legal.

This is not too surprising, given that Geno’s is a private business, they have the right to limit the customers that they serve, with certain exceptions (race, religion, etc.).

Requiring English is not going to violate discrimination laws in most cases because 1) anyone can learn English, and 2) there are many cultures that don’t speak English, so it is not discriminating against a single, clear minority.

However, it should be recognized that the US does not have a national language, and for a reason – unlike the European nations that our culture and government descended from, we have the freedom to choose our own language. If a group wants to speak Polish, and only talk to other people who speak Polish, and only serve customers who order in Polish, they can do so.

Of course, given the pervasiveness of English as the world language of trade and business, I think it’s a bad idea to *not* learn English. It’s also poor manners to move to another country and not attempt to learn the local culture and adhere to their rules while you are living there.

But law and morals only overlap so far – there should not be a law requiring English, just like there should not be a law require that you happily accept a business owner who refuses to take orders in the language that you happen to speak. In a free society, these are cultural and social issues – they shouldn’t have to become legal ones.