"This is America. When ordering speak in English," proclaims the sign at Geno's Steaks. Owner Joe Vento put up in the window of his shop six months ago. (6/9/06)
Fast forward to 1/23/09:
ABC News' Kirit Radia Reports: As President Obama worked the rope-line at the State Department Thursday, a State Department staffer named Charles Silver, knowing the President once lived in Indonesia, shouted out, "good afternoon" in the local language.
Obama responded back in what Silver later told ABC News was "very good" Bahasa Indonesian. The two then chatted briefly about the neighborhood Obama once lived in.
We are a nation of immigrants, for goodness sake! Of course, speaking English is preferred, but to deride those that don't or can't, or to attempt to make laws that mandate one only speak English, belies the fact that not everyone in the world speaks English, let alone everyone in the United States!
High five to Obama for being the better person.
UPDATE: Nashville Voters Reject a Proposal for English-Only
Nashville voters have rejected a proposal to make English the city’s official language and to prevent government workers from communicating in other languages.
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