Mr. Vento, I’m Behind You 110%

Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.

Late last week Geno's Steaks, one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints, became part of the national immigration debate when restaurant owner Joseph Vento instituted an "English-only" ordering policy.

In other words, unless you order in English, you will be denied service.

The policy is accompanied by small signs which read "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING – SPEAK ENGLISH."

As expected, many have already pulled the 'race card,' accusing the policy of being "racist."

But not I. I, for one, am behind Mr. Vento 110% and respect and applaud him for standing up for what he believes in. Its his restaurant and he should be able to make that policy if he so chooses. If you don't like it, no one is forcing you to eat there.

It's also important to note that Vento said members of his staff are glad to help non-native speakers order in English.

Joseph Vento gets it: "They don't know how lucky they are. All we're asking them to do is learn the English language. We're out to help these people, but they've got to help themselves too."

Amen, Mr. Vento. Amen.

What may surprise many about Joseph Vento is that his grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920. He understands exactly what I understand: It's not fair to the people who came here and learned English for people who came here illegally to get away with not, just like it's not fair that people who immigrate to this country legally have to go through so much crap to become an American while hundreds of illegals hop over the U.S.-Mexican border every day and we turn a blind eye.

It's no coincidence that some of the most vocal against illegal immigration, including Hispanics, are themselves immigrants. Only they came to this country legally.