Category: Political

Free speech is being attacked by liberals in Ohio. A bar owner, who believes, as I do, that immigrants should learn to speak English, has posted a sign that reads "For Service Speak English." Now the Ohio Civil Rights Commission has wrongly found the owner guilty of engaging in discriminatory practices.

Read the story:

Bar sign runs afoul of state
'Speak English' violates bias law, panel rules

By Janice Morse
Enquirer staff writer

MASON - A tavern's sign, "For Service Speak English," violates Ohio civil rights law, a commission ruled Thursday - as the sign still sat in the window of the Pleasure Inn on U.S. 42.

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission says that, because of the sign, the Pleasure Inn "engaged in discriminatory practices."

As a result of the finding, the business 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, said Christia Alou White, commission spokeswoman.

The business has 10 days to ask the commission to reconsider. Pleasure Inn owner Tom Ullum, 63, of Lebanon, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday and his lawyer, Jay Revelson, declined to comment.

But the commission, in its letter of determination, said: "Mr. Ullum, who identifies himself as a full-blooded American, believes that he has the right to post in his window whatever he pleases. He insists that he does not discriminate against anyone. However, he does believe that immigrants who live in this country should learn to speak English."

Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a Mount Auburn-based agency that handles fair-housing issues for eight counties including Warren, 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.

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.

In its complaint, HOME asserted that the sign was intended to keep Hispanics from entering the premises, and that the sign "discloses to the public that the Pleasure Inn refuses service to individuals based on national origin," the commission said.

However, the commission said Ullum responded that "the sign means exactly what it says. ... None of (the tavern's) employees speak any language other than English and, therefore, would be unable to communicate with any patrons who are not versed in the English language."

Ullum also said the inn neither refuses service nor prohibits anyone from entering the premises based upon sex, color, race or national origin.

But the commission says: "The English-only rule applied by the Pleasure Inn serves no purpose other than to discriminate against non-English speaking individuals.

"The enforcement of this rule perpetuates an atmosphere of exclusion and imposes a badge of inferiority upon the non-English speaking community.

"This type of 'second-class citizenship' treatment is precisely the type of egregious conduct that the Ohio Civil Rights Act is aimed at eliminating."

G. Michael Payton, the commission's executive director, said, "With its ever-growing numbers and since Sept. 11, 2001, new immigration and language access remains a critical community and political issue."

He agrees that it is "imperative that all residents learn to speak English in order to participate in the American culture, employment and life."

But Payton said that goal will require an investment in organizations that serve people who are new immigrants and have limited English skills.

There are two issues going on here. The first, and most important, is freedom of speech. This man has never denied service to anyone on the basis of sex, color, race, or national origin. He simply posted a sign. The last time I checked, the First Amendment allows you to write anything you want. The man did nothing wrong. The bar has never even enacted the rule. Had they actually been denying service, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission might have had a case. Might. Which brings me to the second issue.

What, exactly, is wrong with discriminating based on language? You can't control your sex, race, or national origin, but you can decide what languages you speak. I can't speak Spanish (not much, anyway). Whose fault is that? It is my fault. I can't speak French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, or any other non-English language. Again, that is my own fault. I don't move to foreign countries and try to live there without learning the language, so why do people think they can come to America and not learn English?

If a bar or restaurant opened up that only served people who could speak one of those languages, that would be their right. They wouldn't make much money here in America, but who am I to tell them they can't do that? Should businesses in America be forced to hire translators just in case somebody who can't speak English wants service? No. That is ridiculous.

Also, what does this issue have to do with fair housing? Absolutely nothing. So why is it that Housing Opportunities Made Equal is filing complaints? It should also be noted that this organization has been running extremely racist advertisements on the radio, in which a man calls about renting an apartment, each time pretending to be of a different race. As he plays each race, he does so in the most stereotypical way possible. He is, of course, turned down each time, until the very last try, during which he plays the part of, you guessed it, a white man. I'd link to a clip of the commercial if I could find it. Apparently free speech only applies to liberals.