POSTVILLE, IOWA

I'VE GOTTEN SOME REQUESTS TO BLOG ABOUT POSTVILLE. IT'S A RATHER LONG TALE, BUT TO SUM IT UP IN A NUTSHELL, MANY YEARS AGO A GROUP OF JEWS BOUGHT THE OLD CLOSED MEAT PLANT LOCATED IN POSTVILLE, IOWA TO PROCESS KOSHER BEEF FOR SALE, MOSTLY IN NEW YORK CITY.

STAFFING THE PLANT WAS A CHALLENGE, AND INITIALLY THEY STARTED WITH RUSSIANS AND POLES. SO POSTVILLE WAS IN FOR A DOUBLE CULTURE SHOCK. AFTER THAT PHASE CAME THE MEXICAN AND GUATEMALANS TO WORK THE PLANT. WHAT BROUGHT THE SITUATION TO THE HEADLINES WAS A HUGH IMMIGRATION RAID ON MAY 12 TH OF THIS YEAR WHERE SEVERAL HUNDREDS WERE ARRESTED, PROSECUTED, AND DEPORTED.

SINCE THE RAID, POSTVILLE HAS AGAIN BEEN IN THE NEWS. LAST SUNDAY WAS AN ORGANIZED MARCH THAT MADE THE HEADLINES. MOST RECENTLY THERE ARE SOMALI IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING TO TAKE THE JOBS OF THE HISPANICS. ANOTHER CULTURE SHOCK FOR POSTVILLE.

IF YOU'D LIKE A BETTER EXPLANATION AND A FEEL FOR WHAT IT'S LIKE I SUGGEST YOU CHECKOUT BARBRA'S BLOG, AND CLICK ON HER LABEL CALLED "DIVERSITY".

IMMIGRATION FALLS TOO CLOSE TO POLITICS AND RELIGION IN THIS CASE, SO I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM WRITING ON THIS TOPIC. I WILL HOWEVER AGREE WITH BARBRA AND TERESA, "WHAT WAS ONCE AMERICA'S MELT'IN POT IN POSTVILLE, HAS TURNED INTO A CESS POOL".