Harleysville-Lansdale Real Estate and More: Immigration, Discrimination... Is It Leaving Us Unnecessarily Divided?

Immigration is certainly a hot topic these days. 

And discrimination has even been a hot topic on Active Rain this week. 

There was a terrific Op-Ed article in The NY Times earlier this year written by Thomas Friedman about why we should Embrace Immigration (legal immigration of course).  The main point was all but one of the 40 high school finalists in the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search were from immigrant Asian families.  Families who came to the United States of America to make a better life for themselves and their children, people who CHOOSE to be American.  Friedman argues in his article that we should be glad that the best and brightest in science and innovation want to be American citizens, that is the absolutely best way to stay a global leader.  Think about it.  He makes a lot of sense.

At the Re/Max seminar Demand Success Today and Tomorrow, Dave Liniger, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Re/Max International, predicted that it is legal immigration that will bring us out of the current housing slump.  Everyone wants the American Dream of home ownership.  He even suggested that agents who may want to take advantage of a new pool of buyers might want to take up Spanish as a second language.  Think about it.  He makes a lot of sense too.

We posted a blog earlier this year, Casada y Cansada - Married & Tired - Learning a New Language.  In it, we talk about the difficulty my daugher and I are having trying to learn Spanish and why it is important to be fair and patient with people trying to learn English.

So if you have conflicted feelings about immigration, consider the positives.

We will leave you with a story:

We normally take our son to a barber that happens to also be a Realtor (imagine that).  However, our son plays sports every season and has had practices everyday after school since September.  This Realtor/barber is only open until 6pm on weekdays and has limited Saturday hours.  A few weeks ago, our son's hair was way out of control long - even he was begging for a haircut.  He and I dashed to the barber only to find him closed.  We dashed to a Best Cuts only to find one girl working on an updo for a prom (hour wait at least).  So I remembered seeing a new barber shop in Lansdale near the train station, we headed there, saw the open sign and charged right in.

No joke, there were eight barbers and eight guys getting there hair cut.  All sixteen guys (barber and customer) were young Hispanic males, dressed in black, sporting tattoos, a few chains, and speaking Spanish.  Loud Spanish music was playing.  A few heads turned when we walked in - me and my blond, freckle-faced 12 year old son - but no one acknowledged us.  I think they expected us to turn around and walk out.  I'll admit I hesitated for a second, but we were determined to get a haircut, so we sat down and waited our turn.

After a 10 minute wait, one of the barbers finished with his customer.  He came over to us and pointed at my son and said, "Are you next?"  My son sheepishly followed him to his chair.  I stayed back in the waiting area letting my son describe how he wanted his hair cut.  To be sure, the barber took his time, showed him a few pictures and I overheard him say to my son, "Are you sure you want it that short?"  I still stayed out of it, but I was curious to see the result.

The result?  A half hour later my son had probably the best hair cut of his entire life, way more stylish than what he would have gotten from the Realtor/barber.  He looked amazing (and still does).  The barber comes over to me, tells me it will be $13 and asks if I like it.  Then he says,

"We don't normally get people like you in here. 

Would you mind taking a few of our business cards and telling your friends about us?" 

People like you.  I had to laugh.  So I took the cards, thanked him for the terrific haircut and told him that I would happily recommend their business.  True to my word, I have told many friends about our experience, encouraged them to try it and not be scared off by the music or gang-like appearance of these guys.  They really know how to cut hair.  As for us?  Yeah, we'll be back.  Next time I am going to try my Spanish out on them! 

Here is a picture of the Finest Barbershop in Lansdale, PA:

~Lisa

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

Immigration, Discrimination... Is It Leaving Us Unnecessarily Divided? Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.