Thanasi and his wife Sophia were shopping today and while in the check out line, chit-chatting amongst themselves in the language of their parents and grandparents— Greek, they were verbally accosted by a woman who didn’t like the fact they were speaking a foreign language.
They are both American-born and are raising their kids to speak Greek, as well as the obvious English. And like many Greek Americans, speak Greek amongst themselves to not only practice the language but also to keep it viable in their families.
“Speak fucking English, this is America” the woman behind them said as they spoke amongst themselves and minded their own business.
Thanasi captured the end of the exchange on video and posted to his Facebook, just as the manager of the store came to ask the women to leave.
“We don’t allow that kind of abuse of our customers,” she told the couple as she threw the woman out.
Thanasi added about his experience:
“Sophia and I were in line at the market, and naturally, speaking Greek. Out of nowhere this lady behind us decides to give us a modern history lesson and tells us, “Speak F*@king English, this is America.”
“Furthermore, she demonstrated her well-versed use of the English language by using every swear word to describe us and how we don’t belong here.”
10 comments
The sad thing is that the way 80% of the people in N. America speak English is a disgrace.
She’s lucky, if the couple were Latinos, her body could be filled now with holes, Greeks are polites and peaceful.
EXCUSE ME BUT NOT ALL LATINOS ARE GUN TOTING AND AS A LATINA WOMAN I RESENT YOUR IDIOTIC JUDGEMENT OF LATINOS!!! That woman was rude to interfere with that Greek couple speaking Greek. America is a country of many races and nationalities who have the freedom to speak their language here. Some gringo idiot lambasted a Navajo woman for speaking Navajo. HELLLOOOO !!! The Navajos have been here for thousands of years.
U.S. Constitution, First Amendment (adopted on December 15, 1791)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
If it happens to you, just tell the person that you are exercising your freedom of speech and acting according to the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and that the accuser should learn and follow the laws of the United States. Once they learn them, if they are patriots, they should also defend these laws.
Do we have a name of the woman yet?
Barbarian, flaming ignoramus & Ugly American. Someone noted elsewhere (re: this incident) that a good percentage of the English language is based upon the Greek, ironically. …….But regardless, we’re a nation of immigrants — unless she’s a true Native American she has NO right to tell anyone else they’re not welcome.
And how DARE anyone stretch their minds with a second or third language….
And good for that employee or manager for sticking up for the people who dared to speak a second language while on line in her store, ousting the harassing imbecile.
When my husband and I travel in other countries, we naturally speak English to each other. Nobody has ever demanded that we speak to each other in the dominant language of the country. In any case, the store manager did the right thing. People should not be screaming and cursing at other customers, no matter what the reason.
The whole “if you see something, say something” garbage has gotten out of control. It started from Islamophobia and now has become a different and uncontrollable monster. You have Italian math professors having trouble on planes because the imbecile seated next to them thinks their equations look like Arabic. “But he wouldn’t make small talk with me! I thought he was up to something” said the woman who was trying to get him booted off the plane. With America becoming more polarized, the uninformed bigot has become more emboldened than ever. Learning a second language challenges your brain and can increase a few intelligence quotient points. Someone should tell the lovely woman in the video to learn one…
The Bannon/Trump presidency has unleashed all the pent up ignorance and hatred in the USA. In addition, the refusal of many nations, especially the Middle Eastern countries, to accept refugees and halt the support of the evil threesome, Russia, Iran and Assad has encouraged the right wing haters of all nations. Too many in the world have lost their ability to be compassionate and instead, have embraced anti-humanism. How sad for all of us.