http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/LaurieRoberts/Poor Arthur Frommer, traveler extraordinaire. His sensibilities were so upset this week by the footage of rifle toting publicity seeking protesters on the mean streets of Phoenix that he's made an announcement.
Henceforth and perhaps for all time, he won't be visiting our fair state and he may advise his followers to give us the cold shoulder as well.
*snip*
First of all, I'm afraid you may be limiting your future travel options. Now that the national media has had heart palpitations over this thing, I expect the wackos will come out across the country toting their arms as they are, in most places, legally allowed to do. Why, already New Hampshire must be off your travel itinerary given last week's health-care town hall, wherein a guy showed up with a pistol strapped to his leg. (Funny, I don't recall any angst flowing forth on your blog about that.)
Secondly, I'm pretty sure that you'll be OK if you come for a gander at the Grand Canyon, unless you happen to be one of those tourists who gets too close to the dang thing and falls in.
*snip*
Respectfully, Mr. Frommer, I've lived in Arizona for 27 years and I've yet to ever see anyone walking down the street with an Uzi. If a publicity stunt really scares you that much, then perhaps it is best that you avoid our fine state. But I hope you're made of stronger stuff than that. I hope you give us a second look.
Come and be awed by the majesty of Monument Valley at sunrise. Go rafting down the Colorado River or sit beside the waterfall at Havasu Creek, surrounded by the massive red walls of the grandest canyon in the world.
Head to the White Mountains and strap on a snowboard this winter or take a ride through the Sonoran desert in the spring, when the wildflowers light up this land that exists nowhere else on earth. Come see the saguaros and the hawks that soar silently in the sky above.