Indie editor, who founded Traveling Bonfires,
bids farewell to Asheville after seven years

In behalf of all the beautiful bodies and wonderful spirits that comprise the Traveling Bonfires and Loved by the Buffalo Publications (publisher of The Indie, among others), I ó and my ever-dedicated comrade and friend Marta Osborne ó extend our sincerest and deepest thank-you to one and all for your support and help in the last six (almost seven) years of our life and love in Asheville.

The Traveling Bonfires ó mother and parent of the ìBonfires for Peace at Pritchard Park,î and instigator of countless shows and events in pursuit and celebration of global peace and multicultural community in Western North Carolina and elsewhere ó travels on to a new community in the West Coast.

It has been really unbearably hard for us to financially sustain our physical existence in this ethereal mountain city. The sad signs started appearing following my sonís near-death experience in Manila almost three months ago ó the question that most of us, new immigrants from poorer countries, have to confront like a catís blank stare: Pursue the romantic, quixotic madness or solve a practical, food-to-mouth reality.

I am heading to the West Coast (Las Vegas and Los Angeles, where most of my relatives and people are) to focus on stabilizing the financial life of all these, what I call ìsublime madnesses,î as well as deal with the ìlegalityî of my immigration situation in America.

Despite the departure of the Traveling Bonfires ó and its partner women project, Third World Asheville ó The Indie will, hopefully, just have a two or three monthsí break or sabbatical. I will still continue to publish this little stubborn paper in Asheville ó in absentia, while I hunt for budgets where they usually are ó and have a local friend distribute it in our usual outlets in the community. So all ad contracts will be honored and continued possibly by Jan. or Feb. 2008.

The start of our scheduled long road trip is on Oct. 15 ó so I am still here in Asheville till then, to attend to other personal and organizational matters, and fundraise to beef up travel money, in the next two weeks or so.

My body will leave Asheville but my spirits will stay. The ìfireî that we built will hopefully continue to burn ó because the spirit never ceases to be. It is so hard leaving after seven years of struggle, in the midst of fear and indifferences, me being probably the oddest madman in Asheville ó what my (Filipino and Cherokee/Lakota) people say, ìWhy in a white community? You will never be accepted there.î But that is wrong ó Asheville has taken me in as its own, like how my hometown barrio in a small island in the Philippines took me as their own little son and brother and friend and comrade.

In my life ó I never saw white, black, yellow, red, or brown in peopleís skins, or communism, socialism, buddhism, christianity, islam, or paganism in my spirit ó itís all the same, itís all one. I only see one human being. Gracias. Maraming salamat. Toksa ake.

Pasckie Pascua
Founder-executive director, Traveling Bonfires
Editor-publisher, The Indie
Homeless for the meantime
Asheville

Reader objects to ëshallownessí of speech
in article about impact of U.S. Constitution

EDITORíS NOTE: The reference in this letter is to a Sept. 26 article that appeared in the Daily Planet headlined, ìConstitution blamed for ëslow drift toward totalitarianism.íî
ï
I think that the only thing wrong about the Constitution is the shallowness with which you speak of it.

Less than one year ago, I swore to once again, defend the Constitution, it was when I was sworn in by a traveling judge as an elected Supervisor to the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District. I personally take this oath very seriously.

I am writing today in defense of our Constitution! The very document itself represents the thoughts, and concepts that a consenus of people at the time, could devise, in order for our country to survive. It doesnít give us rights, it clearly defines what our rights are, certain inalienable rights.

It even, to this day, is the document for, by and of people. It ensures the very right for you to sit there and knock the very instrument itself. The very liberties you enjoy daily are mentioned in this document.

I think the Constitution is plenty good enough for us all. It is suffering due to the preversions that lawyers, judges, politicians and professors have created.

I suggest sir that if you donít have anything constructive to say about our Constitution, just keep your mouth shut, or move to Communist Russia, and practice your free speech criticisms of their government.

This is my opinion only and in no way represents the thoughts of anyone else!

Philip J. Turner
Elected Supervisor
Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District
Asheville