Editorial

Immigrant song

The counties of Cape Girardeau, Scott, Perry and Bollinger were settled primarily by German immigrants looking for farmland at the beginning of the 19th century. Other groups came seeking jobs, including Greeks and Irish to do stone work and black laborers to help build the railroads. Bollinger County attracted English stock by way of West Virginia.

Immigration made the United States into a country stronger, more resilient and more accepting of differences.

The latest wave of immigration is Hispanic. The Hispanic population in this region more than doubled in the past decade.

One small but telling sign of the integration of Hispanic culture locally is the line of Habanera men's clothing now available at the J.C. Penney store in Cape Girardeau. The store manager says half the buyers aren't Hispanic.

The Hispanic community isn't the only one growing in the region. The numbers of Asian and Muslim residents are increasing as well. In Cape Girardeau these days, Russians might take your order at McDonald's.

We are enriched by all of their presences.

Comments