When you were talking about Lori, I had to think about "Koetsier Herst" by Mutsaers. Although it's the other way around in her novel. Two parents who're death because of their cause, and the daughter who's just (a) sad (activist).

I was quite amused by Mark. He had a funny accent, but sometimes I thought he was cultivating it. I've never like cultivated accents, so I'll give him the benifit of the doubt.

When you were going on about Afghanistan, Mr. Arnon, a wom"an next to mine knew how to sum it up quite well (in spontaneous Antwaarps): Das dwaajle mee de kroan ope".

And as I'm brabbling about yesterday, I might ask if your outfit has a function as well (like the shirt from yesterday's post). The double-breaster, the brownish pants, the shirt.
(I made a voice-recording of if, but it didn't come out well.)

An outfit should always be chosen for functional reasons. Dress to impress, you know....
I'm not he biggest fan of pregnancy, but in a Peruvian prison ? I can't imagine why anyone feel the need to do that.

My first target was a move to Antwerp for the interview, but my girlfriends needs were more eager last Saturday.
(I hope, maybe the interview will be published in a magazine or on the net?)

@Strasse, perhaps it's logical, perhaps existential issues weigh even heavier in prison. Here I am, hello world, hello assholes (that put me in prison), I exist and my presence in this world is necessary, for I am needed. Something like that?

Do you mean you could be the father? That surprises me too. So, probably not.

Coen

If you had read the article you'd know that Lori was 4 weeks pregnant in september. That is at least six months after winter 2008, which is an improbable long time to improvise keeping sperm stored, especially in prison.

Sander

So what? Just let him play with the doubt.

Noa

I like your selfish non romantic view on motherhood, it has apparentely nothing to do with giving life to a child but everything with being self alive, I wonder if other mothers will agree with you, I do.

@calisha

It's one of the things people like the most, killing the dream.

@Strasse, what I described was not my view on motherhood. There are as many definitions of motherhood as there are mothers.

Noa, should the only reason to become a mother not be that the (oer?)mother wants to give her child the blessing of life (litteraly 'giving birth') and her only goal is to help it discovering this gift? I know every mother has her own other reason to put children on this world but just maybe that's why there are that many problems between parents/children.
This also is a global point of view, not mine (easy way out, isn't it?)

@Strasse
I tend to like your point of view. I once knew a mother who thought she has given birth to the Second Coming of Christ, for example. And after a while she feared it was the Second Coming of Adolf Hitler. There are indeed a lot of totally unbalanced persons (mothers too) amongst the human species. Interesting of course.

Bernard f: Was that Jan's mother?

@Bernard & Strasse, what were your own mothers like? That's where you'll find the answers to your questions Strasse.

@Bernard, I wrote my above comment before reading about you on Arnon's previous entry - I wouldn't have mentioned your mother if I had, my apologies.

Although I don't understand why Lori and her parents didn't wait a few more weeks to announce the pregnancy, I can see she couldn't wait for her release to get pregnant.

If I read correctly, Lori can keep her child with her in prison for a few years.
In the Netherlands there are stricter rules to keep a child in prison:

http://www.dji4kids.nl/ip/uploads/bieb_downloads/Vrouwen%20in%20de%20gevangenis.pdf

Commenters: should a child stay with his/her mother in prison for a few years or not? What say you?

A child should not be made or born in prison.

@Dens
Yes

@Jeanette P
There are much too many persons in prison who do not belong there. Prison for punishment or correction is hardly effective. But that needs an elaborated discussion and a vision. Not to forget that that nobody is equal in a prison, If you have money and/or power…

@Noa
No problem at all. You did not say something awful.

Bernardus

Will your new name bring us an other style in commenting ?
My sister discovered this blog , so maybe I should change my name too, but then my comments are so futile , I just don't see the need.

Mieke, a little confidence, your comments could one day change the world, at least your world, so don't call them futile.

@Mieke
It is not my intent to change style.
Please do not call yourself nor your expressions futile.
I like your presence here.

Bernard, Strasse

Today is an important day for me.Some will decide if I am allowed to make an installation for the exposition space in the local citytheatre in 2009. I would love to do it.

@Mieke
Thumbs up!

Any good news Mieke?

Strasse

He promised me it would be a sure thing, but I still have to wait a little longer to get a definite answer. In the meantime I started working on the concept I plan to use.

Why?

Why have a baby in prison? She's 38, time to do something with her life.
Sorry. As a very similar fate could easily have befallen my own sister I have a lot of sympathy for her and her family. But a joke, even a bad one, is a serious compulsion.

On a serious note, being born in prison is such a severe metaphor for any number of things it is easy to forget how often it literally happens. About 7% of Usa female prisoners give birth in prison.

@mieke

Good for you!