Gut Check: Making simple sense out of life
By Lenore Skomal Erie Times-News staff blogger
Lenore Skomal is an award-winning author and veteran journalist in all forms of media. She is a weekly columnist and daily blogger for the Erie Times-News. She’s authored 17 published books, including an anthology of her columns, Burnt Toast available on her website www.lenoreskomal.net.   Read more about this blog.
Posted: May 23rd, 2012
Speak Spanish, por favor, and you’ll get a free pizza

A promotion sponsored by a pizza parlor chain based in Dallas has sparked controversy over the age-old English only debate, in a weird sort of way.

The Pizza Patron chain, according to USA Today, has restaurants mainly in Latino communities located in Texas. In order to further entrench themselves in that community, it is sponsoring a free pizza day in June. The catch is: You have to order your pizza in Spanish.

Seems simple enough, but English-Only groups have gotten their knickers in a twist over the marketing ploy, claiming that it not excludes those who don’t speak Spanish, it promotes speaking another language except the mother tongue in this country–something in direct opposition to its movement.

Apparently, even some Latino groups are taking offense as well, saying it all boils down to discrimination. The pizza chain waves off all criticism, and is sticking to it’s plan. It apparently drew similar ire several years ago when it started accepting pesos as well as dollars for its pizzas.

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