It is no secret to readers of this blog that I have a fascination with the legend and legacy of Wyatt Earp. In my younger days I thrilled to the story of the lawman who, when the outlaws attacked his family, took the law into his own hands and annihilated the bad guys while riding the vengeance trail. Later years a more mature outlook has entered my Earpophilia and I have begun to notice an unsavory connection to America’s gun problem and the western movies about Wyatt and others. This trait excuses extra-legal means of resolving a dispute by means of homicide. From the notorious “stand your ground” laws of Florida to the widespread embrace of the former Orange Skinned Occupant of the Oval Office, those who buy into this myth have brought the vigilante ethic into our current political discourse.
I am thinking about this after a brief stop in Tombstone yesterday with my son. All along Allen Street the shops formerly selling Wyatt memorabilia have taken a decidedly ugly turn in offering right-wing inspired threats stamped on the Chinese manufactured t-shirts they sell. As disturbing as this trend is, the ultimate symbol of the symbiotic relationship between western myth and contemporary politics can be seen right outside of town. Some enterprising troglodyte has opened up a store which offers nothing but MAGA merchandise, and the sign above the establishment stands as a metaphor for all that is vile in this mindset. This weekend will mark the 93rd observance of Tombstone's "Helldorado Days" celebration. I cannot imagine that the crowd they will attract will resemble anything I remember from my childhood experiences at the "Town Too Tough to Die." God help us all.
