There goes the neighborhood!!!
I was so embarrassed to hear that comment today while showing a house in an affluent neighborhood to some Hispanic clients of mine. I wasn't embarrassed for my clients, I was embarrassed for the people who made that racist remark in front of my clients. I was embarrassed that someone would have the nerve to say that comment, while looking sideways at us, and walk away with their smug looks on their faces. Did they think that because we were speaking Spanish that they wouldn't be understood?
I was proud today as well. I was proud of the way my client handled the situation. They just shrugged it off and went about their business, as if it didn't matter. Because it really didn't matter at all. You can't allow the racist remarks that issue forth from rich, ignorant mouths to dissuade you from realizing your dreams in life. I'm sure they won't. Yes, I was very proud of them.
I was also dumbfounded today. You see, that comment was made in the presence of a Realtor. Well, two if you include me. The part that dumbfounded me was that the other agent agreed and walked away laughing with them. I was boiling inside to think that a Realtor would be an active part of such a conversation. It's a good thing that I have had time to think about the situation since then.
You see, I could very possibly have made a big mistake by reacting to that situation out of my anger over what I thought had happened. How often do we do that? We see everything through our own individual filters. My filter today caused me to see that conversation in a certain way that made those people out to be bigots. They very well may have been just that, but consider this...
The people are having a great time talking with their Realtor about the house they are considering buying. They are joking with one another about the possibility that they might buy the house and the husband mentions that he'll really enjoy having his buddies from the men's group he just joined over for a bar-b-que sometime. His wife says, a bit loudly, "There Goes the Neighborhood!!", which draws a good bit of laughter, even from the Realtor, as they walk away.
Yes, I was embarrassed today...for myself. I've got to get my filter cleaned. How about you?
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