Having written many letters to the editor, and being rather vocal on some comment threads on the Mountain Xpress website, I am ready to admit a first: I was wrong.
As a landscaper, I scoffed at the idea of dressing like a statue and standing still being considered “work.” After shoveling gravel in 90-plus-degree weather, standing still sounded like a break to me. I also majored in acting and directing at UNCA, so considering standing silent as a performance was also a stretch.
However, Saturday of Bele Chere my worldview was turned upside down. There stood the "Silver Drummer Girl,” positioned in front of the street preachers, drumming non-stop in 95-degree weather, as admirers poured money into her vase. It was hilarious, beautiful and, I imagine, physically taxing. The preachers tried to shout over her snare drum, blasting messages of hate through a speaker system, but to no avail. She simply played louder, muting the predictable rhetoric to a murmur. I thought, "She must be a genius to pick this spot.”
Then a stranger next to me informed me the organizers of the festival tell performers where to set up. This seems foolish and possibly incendiary on their part, as a few of the preachers were visibly upset. I informed the stranger of my hatred of the statue, to which he replied, "Yeah, that's my girlfriend. We have the same argument all the time. She makes more than me sometimes and I work in a kitchen."
After removing my sandal from my mouth, I had an epiphany. Not only is it work, but it is an invaluable service she provides to the city. I would say my hate has turned to a full-on crush, but her boyfriend seemed pretty cool.
— Joe Dawson
Asheville
dont hate the player, hate the game!
Great letter.
It seems clear from this and other discussions of this year’s Bele Chere street preachers that the Silver Drummer Girl’s performance was heroic, and a tonic to festival-goers. I’m sorry I missed it, as I had waaaay too much of the preachers and could have used that antidote.
I too was very happy to see the drummer girl drown out the jesus freaks!!
Yeah I listened to little drummer girl drum over preachers telling everyone that God loved them. Man those guys sure are full of hate. Used to be you gave respect to people whether you agreed with them or not. Not in Asheville it seems. With all the people from neighboring states at the festival watching the big show all these idiots were putting on to drown out all the “hate speech” it just made me embarassed to be from NC.