Just like any other language, English is a way to communicate with others. The popularity of English across the world is due to its wide acceptance, but sometimes we see people judging a person based on the fact that how fluently he/she can speak or write in English. This is common in Asian countries and recently a cafe became the topic of talk after a video went viral on internet showing two women mocking the manager of the cafe for his English-speaking skills. Raza Ahmad Rumi posted the clip on Twitter and described the incident as “sad”
This is just so sad. Class privelege, colonial hangover and depravity of Pakistani elite — all rolled into one clip. The hero here is this manager and my salam to him for his hard work, dedication and putting up with this! pic.twitter.com/8IVnE6nSYv
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) January 21, 2021
According to the online sources, these women named Uzma Chaudary and Dia Haider are the owners of Cannoli By Café Souland. They can be heard making fun of their café manager Owais.
Netizens became angry and some of them even used the hashtag #BoycottCannoli. Here are some tweets:
#1
Guarantee you these women would LOVE my horrible Urdu while they mock a working man who speaks multiple languages.
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) January 21, 2021
#2
Maybe they have…gora-navirus
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) January 21, 2021
#3
https://twitter.com/CynthiaDRitchie/status/1352176468688834560
#4
https://twitter.com/ItsMDHAMMAD/status/1352178261015613441
#5
To the female owners of Cannoli who filmed this man Awais and made FUN of his English, this is called WORKPLACE HARASSMENT and what you two privileged BURGERS did is the most DISGUSTING thing. ENGLISH IS NOT THE MEASURE OF INTELLIGENCE!!!!#BoycottCannoli pic.twitter.com/LLuqUUONiI
— Amber Khurshid (@AmberKhurshid_) January 21, 2021
#6
https://twitter.com/dejectedmemon/status/1352001270501015555
#7
Some deciding to boycott this place. Don’t do that. The manager will face. Rather go there & give 5 star to this employee. He managed this Restaurant without knowing English. He deserves applause.
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 21, 2021
#8
https://twitter.com/snwszh/status/1352193785174908928
#9
Dear restaurant owner kindness is the best language, a universal language, behtar hai aap bhi seekh len!! 🙄
— Dr Bushra Iqbal🇵🇰 (@DrBushraIqbal) January 21, 2021
After getting to know about this backlash, the owners did realize their mistake & issued an apology if they have offended anyone; however, they also said that it was a normal chit-chat and there was no intention of hurting anyone. Read the post below:
What are your views on this whole thing? Share your thoughts in the comments section.