Telemarketers told to believe in America or don't call

THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE
'If you do not speak English, please hang up'
Telemarketers told to believe in America or don't call

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Posted: August 12, 2008
9:25 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Courtesy WNEP-TV

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5642 in Montrose, Pa., has a message for the many telemarketers that call its answering machine: Speak English.

Those who call the post when no one's around to answer the telephone will be greeted by a pleasant, female voice on the answering machine saying, "Hi, you've reached the Montrose VFW, Post 5642. We are an English-speaking, American establishment. If you do not speak English or believe in America, please hang up."

The one-story, white VFW post is a popular gathering point for veterans along Pennsylvania's Route 706, according to a WNEP-TV report. According to its post commander, the VFW's phone number is also a popular target of telemarketers, many of whom speak in broken English.

"We are living in America," Post Commander John Miner told WNEP. "We should be able to speak English."

Some in the community have called that message racist and unconstitutional.

Miner, however, says the post has used the message for several months without complaint. He has no intention of changing it.

"So you're sticking to your guns?" a WNEP reporter asked him.

Miner answered, "We're veterans."

Reporters from WNEP sought community reaction to the message.

Teresa Artohofer of Montrose said the VFW post's message contradicts the Constitution's protection of free speech.

"Does it say English speech? It just says freedom of speech. No where in there does it say freedom of English speech. It just says, freedom of speech," Arthofer said.

Helen Warner told WNEP that if her grandparents had to learn English to live in America, modern immigrants should too.

"What do I think? I agree. If you're going to be in America, speak English," Warner said.

The VFW, whose website claims the group includes 2.2 million members in approximately 8,100 posts worldwide, was chartered by Congress in 1936 but remains a non-profit organization funded by individual contributions and is not a government entity.

Ten years ago the VFW passed Resolution 303, to "urge Congress to enact legislation mandating English as the official language" of the United States.