Commentary: Cape Girardeau is alive and well

Southeast Missourian intern Robert Overmann provides guest commentary in place of James Samons' "Street Spirit," which will return next week.

When I was asked to write a column about entertainment in Cape Girardeau, I started worrying. What did I have to write about? Frankly, I can't remember attending an entertainment event in Cape Girardeau of my own accord. Though I've lived in Cape Girardeau my whole life, I knew little about what went on in my hometown.

That is, until I began my internship with the Southeast Missourian. Yes, there are those less-than-exciting assignments like attending the Missouri House of Representatives open forum on transportation. There are those assignments, however, that I've really looked forward to. OK, maybe Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area aren't quite bustling centers of culture and entertainment, but there's a little more to do around town than I previously thought. For instance, one of my first assignments involved attending a classic car show in Jackson. If I hadn't been the new guy in an unfamiliar office, I probably would have skipped a couple laps around the Southeast Missourian newsroom.

The entertainment is out there, fellow couch-potatoes, but you can't expect it to rip the Xbox controller out of your hands and order you out of the man-cave. Take some friends, be proactive and enjoy what your town has to offer. Entertainment for virtually everyone is available, whether it be a Rick Perry rally, local music shows or local artist exhibits around town.

As a student at Truman State University, I heard the same thing about Kirksville, Mo., as I hear about Cape Girardeau all the time: That there's never anything to do. That simply isn't true. College is a great experience for many reasons, not the least of which is that you're practically forced to attend the cultural and artistic events available. Sometimes classes require attending a certain event. If not, peer pressure is a powerful motivator. Regardless, I've spent more time at artistic and cultural events in the past year than in the entire rest of my life. I've learned about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Tunnel of Oppression exhibit, listened to famous authors speak and attended a slightly disturbing art exhibit on human voyeurism.

I don't want to hear any more complaints about Cape Girardeau being dead or boring, because it isn't. Just because we don't live in New York City isn't an excuse to miss out on what your town has to offer. Find out what's out there, something will pique your interest, I promise. Helpful hint: Your local newspaper is a great place to start.