Let’s Talk Tucson, Arizona That Is

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Where to go, where to go for spring break 2025?

Yes, destinations like Ft. Lauderdale or Cancun were out of the picture for obvious reasons.  Okay, to put it more in perspective, our days of mild debauchery and late-night revelry are in the past.  Actually, well, well in the past.

So, let’s pick a destination that’s warm, reasonably priced, cultured, and not overrun by boisterous college spring breakers. How about Tucson?  Yes, Tucson, Arizona, a “second city” of sorts, one Susan visited decades ago, and one I had never visited.  We found this metropolis of some 500,000 people welcoming, scenic, inviting, and without question, a delightful change from our home in Chicago.

Some other general observations on this jewel of the American Southwest:

• Greater Tucson is surrounded by mountains, giving relatively quick access to national and state parks that offer hiking, scenic vistas, and solitude. 
• Getting around by car is relatively easy thanks to many multiple lane, limited access roadways. There is a modest bus network and a modern streetcar line downtown. One regret: This transportation guy didn’t make the time to take the streetcar; for sure next time. 
• The University of Arizona campus near downtown Tucson is sprawling and modern. It blends seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhoods. 
• The major thoroughfares of the city are lined with small shops and restaurants, from fast food and casual national chains to independent eateries.  We opted for the latter for dinner and enjoyed outstanding, delicious, and authentic Mexican cuisine most nights. 
• And, must note that just about everyone we interacted with — from the baristas at the nearby Starbucks to the volunteers at the national parks to servers and bartenders — were pleasant and genuine. 

What follows is a visual perspective, or as I’ve identified frequently in this space as a “travelogue” following our five days in Tucson. 

Have to start this post with an image of a cactus. A really, really big one from the Saguaro National Park East.

And, for a different perspective: This is a “cactus under development.”

Yes, there are lots of different kinds of cactus (or is it cacti?) around Tucson. These low-slung purple cactus provided a great low-level kind of perspective.

As for iconic views: This one from Saguaro National Park puts the desert Southwest into perspective.

While in the Centro, or the downtown section of Tucson, we met some interesting people during an annual art and street fair. This guy stood out, for obvious reasons.

Framed by some tree-like cactus, Susan stands ready to continue the tour.

At the roundabout from our trolly tour of Sabino Canyon, I took a break before we headed back down to the desert floor. You may wonder why I’m wearing a long sleeved shirt when it was 95 degrees that afternoon.

But Tucson offers more than just magnificent outdoors. The Tucson Desert Art Museum featured a wide range of exhibits, including this fascinating display of native American weavings.

Another exhibit at the Desert Art Museum featured cartoons that misrepresented immigrants from past generations. One can conclude that the perspectives displayed here certainly have relevance today.

And, an appropriate final image to share. We needed a place to relax, unwind and chill by the pool after a day of exploration. The Embassy Suites hotel in the Paloma Village complex provided the ideal venue. Plus, breakfast and a happy hour were included!

A concluding thought: Like many fellow Americans I am quite disturbed by most — if not all — of the brazen, caustic, nonsensical, and sometimes unconstitutional actions undertaken by the current administration in Washington.  Our short trip to Tucson, to another uniquely American community, provided some level of relief, some level of solace. 

Tucson Tragedy Will Unfortunately Define 2011, As We Ask “Why?”

By Edward M. Bury, APR, aka The PRDude

In December of this year,  newspapers, magazines, television, radio and online media chronicle will chronicle the “biggest” or “most significant” events of 2011.  The shooting rampage in a Tucson supermarket parking lot Saturday that left Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded, six killed and a dozen wounded surely will be among the events that define and shape these 12 months.

What started out as a decidedly “non-news” event — an outreach effort by an elected official to meet with constituents — now dominates the news and more than likely will do so for the immediate future.

The pivotal news stories of last year — our struggling economy, the Gulf Coast oil spill, continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the rise of the Tea Party movement — have not been shifted to the “yesterday’s news” file;  these and other stories will remain in the national spotlight.

Through Saturday’s violence, the national debate now will refocus on topics we’ve discussed before:  Gun control and the Second Amendment,  extreme political views, mental health, security and more.  The alleged gunman arrested in Tucson reportedly posted statements about his mistrust of the government on his website, meaning some will offer theories regarding the impact of social media on society and behavior.

Sadly, the violent attack on an elected official is not “new news.”  The nation has mourned slayings of Presidents and many others elected to public office. Violent attacks on those we elect to lead have defined far too many other periods in American history.   And, sadly we now have to put together the pieces to learn “why” it happened again.

Why was Congresswoman Giffords, a progressive, well-respected, highly accomplished public servant singled out for what prosecutors will define as murder?  Why was one of our most cherished rights as Americans, the freedom to assemble, shattered by violence?  And, why did the alleged gunman turn his rage on so many others, including a little girl?

This blog was launched to let me share thoughts and ideas regarding public relations, which I firmly maintain plays a pivotal role in modern society.  Public relations, if practiced according to prescribed ethical standards some of us uphold, promotes open disclosure of information and two-way communication on issues.  A public relations plan should identify threats and opportunities, and it should identify ways to build relationships.

Perhaps this statement may be perceived as simplistic or overly idealistic. But as we sort through the madness that took place in Tucson,  perhaps we can identify future threats to our way of life; perhaps we can identify opportunities to build and encourage dialog; perhaps we can building relationships that will prevent the madness that took place in Tucson from happening again.

Perhaps.