Between
the park and the bull ring is a solid granite monument —
a great 
Obelisk — which has been proclaimed everywhere in the
media as a monument to border friendship. More than 150 years
ago a grand monument was constructed in distant Massachusetts
and then carried around the horn to this special place.
Hundreds of people refer to this monument as the premier
symbol of the close bond between the countries of the United
States and Mexico. Throngs of people photograph this huge glistening
obelisk and refer to it in newspaper articles and stories everywhere.
The ancient inscription — the only inscription on that
entire monument — is certainly one of cooperation and
cultural diversity:
The
destruction or displacement of this monument is
a
misdemeanor punishable by the United States or Mexico.
That
singularly lyrical sentence is all that there is on this great
stone. While some will attribute far more meaning to these words,
they do not lie, but instead are just expressing a metaphor
for the future of America. It is also true that this stone was
once about 11 feet tall. Vandalism and the then needed refurbishment
has reduced it to its present size. Lastly, the monument was
once serial number one of 258. Texas politicians wangled their
ways in Washington and had all the monuments along the entire
border with Mexico renumbered so that they would have number
one and we would have number 258.
Now
that you have arrived at the "improved area" of the
park you must realize that many of the more dramatic (and certainly
the most interesting) events here in the park will be spontaneous
and unplanned and be but a random interplay of peoples and their
desires and so you may easily become involved unexpectedly and
intimately at any moment.
Make
certain that you can see one of those
white and green vehicles with U.S. BORDER PATROL on the side.
Keep it in view at all times.
