Tombstone, Arizona

Hi all,

Tombstone is only 15 or 20 miles from Bisbee so the trip was short.

I drove into town knowing that the day was going to be interesting. I was going there to see where Wyatt Earp, Virgil & Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday had gunned down Ike Clanton and others in October of 1881 at the OK Corral. I really get into that kind of stuff so I was pumped up.

I also knew I was arriving at the same time hundreds of others were gathering from all over the country to "defend the border" from the massice tide of illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Cochise County is where the majority of illegals are crossing into the states right now. As a matter of fact on the way to Bisbee on Thursday I came across 3 Border Patrol trucks parked on the side of the highway. Sitting in a circle under their watchful eyes were a dozen illegals. A few miles up the road another Border Patrol truck had just rounded up 2 more.

Illegal immigration is a very touchy subject around this area. Well over 1/2 million Mexicans & Central Americans crossed into this country around here last year. Many were caught but many were not. The ranchers are upset because their fences have been damaged and litter has been left everywhere. Did you know that the money sent back to Mexico from those working in this country has now surpased the income of the oil industry. It is the number one "industry" now in Mexico. So the Mexican government does not want it to stop. They even printed a picture book brochure to help its people cross the border and avoid the Border Patrol.

So now a group of people are gathering on this side of the border to "help the Border Patrol." The news trucks, reporters and anyone trying to make "political hay" from this were in town along with protesters with t-shirts saying "Let the Border Patrol Do Its Job" and vigilantes wearing shirts saying "I Defended the U.S. Border". I just pray there will be no violence.

Into this mix of people were tourists trying to see the sights. It was an interesting day. I saw a shoot-out, picked up my copy of the Tombstone Epitaph, visited Boothill Cemetery and generally enjoyed myself. I would like to see it again.

Shalom,
Scott