Passion

Try throwing stones yourself and imagine...
It helps.

And what a nice picture!

This, I might say, is the most beautiful post I've read here.
And I'm not a fan of positivism.

I started reading in 'Ali and Nino' written by Kurban Said (or any of the other heteronyms onewants to use). And I'm still reading in Gstaad.
Kurban writes at page 12: "Een vrouw heeft niet meer verstand dan een kippenei haren", luidt bij ons een spreekwoord. Schepsels zonder verstand moeten worden bewaakt, anders brengen ze onheil, aan zichzelf en anderen. Ik vind het een wijze regel.

Being at a point where a woman that should be guarded, is no more, I sigh and smile. It is beautiful when things come back. I guess that's why we trow stones at water with passion. Nadine Gordimer once wrote a short story about the time the sea was ready to give back. It didn't involve stones, but it did involve passion.

Just a perfect day,
Drink Sangria in the park,
And then later, when it gets dark,
We go home.
Just a perfect day,
Feed animals in the zoo
Then later, a movie, too,
And then home.

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.
Oh such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.

Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone,
Weekenders on our own.
It's such fun.
Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else,
Someone good.

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.
Oh such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.
You're going to reap just what you sow,
You're going to reap just what you sow,
You're going to reap just what you sow,
You're going to reap just what you sow...

(Lou Reed)

Okay mister Said, so we woman might be pretty stupid., I'm not one to argue that. To each his own. (By the way Johannes - Dens just gave me more proof. And how about male christian politicians deciding women can't possibly be competent enough to decide on abortion and so forth. You're right in what you said: indeed, you're a man. Just like it's easy for a white person to say to someone black "I don't see where you're being discriminated." But I suggest you read Martha Nussbaum, she'll teach you how to empathize).
Anyway. To Said I'd say: I'm curious to know what happens when we die. My guess is death is immediately followed by a rebirth. And so Said's hell would then be to have to squeeze himself through a birth channel all over again. Most likely he'll be crying like a baby for his mommy and would prefer to stay in the very womb he now despises so much.

@Tess,
As a toddler I knew there was one thing worse than being a kid, and that is to e born a girl. I was heavily restricted, but girls had a worse fate. You too, have a perfect day.

Jan: perfect doesn't exist in my world. But personally, I like imperfection. It's honest. And I love being a woman. That too is honest. Even sacred if you like.

@ Tess, a song for you too

In the morning when you rise
I bless the sun, I bless the skies
I bless your lips, I bless your eyes
My blessing goes with you

In the nighttime when you sleep
Oh I bless you while a watch I keep
As you lie in slumber deep
My blessing goes with you

This is my prayer for you
There for you, ever true
Each, every day for you
In everything you do

(Celtic Woman)

@tess

I'd like to speak on behave of late mr. Said, who wrote Ali and Nino (which is considered to be the greatest love-story of the 20e century), and say to you, miss Molenaar, that mr. Said doesn't necessarily think that women are stupid, but that it's writting in one of his books. Ali talks in his books. Ali is a muslim (which doesn't mean anything in this context, let me speak) in a multicultural and -etnical society and speaks about all the invluences he's had when he was a kid.

I found that particular quote interesting, as there's a boy in Gstaad who needs to "bewaken" a woman (and a man). The fact or statement that women in general are as dumb as a rock, wasn't my point at all. In fact, it is proven that women are more intelligent, but that with men, the difference is bigger. So geniusses are more likely to be men, but mentally challenged people as well. Women are more reliable what the intellect conserns.

@Jan, that definitely made me smile. Merci!

Abortion & Nussbaum

Tess, it's fascinating that you bring up abortion in a discussion about female writers.
I promise you I'll read something of Martha Nussbaum. If it's not my cake - I remember a television program in which she didn't say anything interesting - I'll stick to Isabel Allende (and Annie MG Schmidt of course), with your permission. A (female) friend suggested Allende's Paula to me. That book was very good. Her latest is not that great I think.

Johannes, I started the conversation and think I'm competent enough to claim what it was about. The issue is rather: you're not getting it.

PS Johannes, let's just agree to disagree, I don't want to further abuse the limited scope of this commentary-space for pointless discussions.

Issue

Tess, this is not about agreement or disagreemant, the issue is rather: you can't come up with some (good) proof for the statement you made in the first place. That's why you launched the abortion subject. I like to talk about literature and the qualities of female authors (actually, this weekend I plan to read Elsa Morante). Also abortion has my serious interest, don't get me wrong, but please, not a mix of the two subjects.
Happy Easter!

Freud

PS Did you notice the alternative spelling of 'disagreement'? Is that freudian, or what?

Johannes: let's stop boring our co-commentators. Email me, we'll make an appointment for a proper discussion. I will then - as you wish- (men's wishes are my command) illustrate exactly where and how in the world (not only in Holland) women at large are viewed, yes also by politicians, as incompetent. However, you may want to think twice before meeting up with me as I'm known to be hysterical. I bight.
tess.molenaar@gmail.com

I like a girl who mite bight. Saskia de Coster, for example.