Denver’s CBS affiliate KCNC-TV is reporting the story of Mike Gray, an employee of the local Arapahoe County government:

The problems began last spring. Gray, 50, owns a lawn service business on the side. He was routinely driving to work in his pickup truck towing a trailer that he uses to carry lawn mowing equipment for his business. On the side of his trailer, the married father of two affixed a sign that reads “Lawn Services Done With Pride!! By An English Speaking American.”

Gray argues that he’s merely advertising a positive attribute of his business that customers find helpful. I can understand that. Go take the subway here in New York, and you’ll see that a sizable portion of the ads are in Spanish or at least advertise businesses that “habla Espanol.”

Capitalism doesn’t discriminate. If a large number of people in a given area speak Spanish, businesses will cater to them by speaking to them in their language. And why not? The purpose of a business is to make money, not to enforce someone’s notion of a societal ideal.

Similarly, Gray discovered a pool of customers who wanted to work with English-speaking businesses, for the same reason that a number of businesses here in New York cater to people who speak Spanish. It has nothing to do with bigotry or xenophobia, it’s simply because customers know that dealing with some companies can difficult enough without the additional obstacle of a language barrier. So, some customers decide to eliminate a potentially problematic variable by patronizing business that speak their language.

Because of this and another offense (he sometimes wears a hat—a gift from his son, he says—that bears the marking “U.S. Border Patrol”), the county is now threatening to fire the 16-year employee. “They claim it’s offensive and I’ve been accused of discrimination and harassment,” he said.

Arapahoe County officials told Gray the sign and hat must go or else. In a Nov. 10, 2005, letter, his supervisor Monty Sedlak wrote the following:

“Some of your conduct ... is reprehensible and discriminatory to our non-English speaking and/or Hispanic workforce. You are in violation of ... guidelines which ensure a workplace free from harassment and sensitive to the diversity of employees.”

“You are required to permanently remove your cap from the workplace. It is offensive and harassing. Your business sign, if on work premises, must be completely covered at all times. This behavior is inappropriate and any further incidents of this nature may result in further disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.”

None of Gray’s conduct was identified in the report, leaving it reasonable to conclude that his sign and hat—by themselves—represented the “conduct” that the county finds “reprehensible and discriminatory.”