ONCE UPON A TIME there was an age of innocence in America where dreamers dreamt of dreams that would someday come true. The house in Suburbia, USA that was surrounding by a lush green lawn that scented the air as the morning dew settled upon it. Two cars sitting majestically in the garage. Children whose smiles paled the sun by comparison.
There were the chaotic times that made us all wonder what will become of us.
The American Dreamer looked glanced up at the moon beaming brightly in the sky and proclaimed someday foot prints of Americans along with the flag of our country would permanently adorn its landscape forever. We dared to dream as we were inspired by the love of our country, love of G-d, and the love our family with love for our fellow man. There were the chaotic times that made us all wonder what will become of us. Questions as to what happened or is happening to our land of the free echoed wherever a sound could be heard. Still the dreamers continued to dream. The dream of better times to return to our nation with new heroes to emerge to take us higher than we had ever been before. Stronger than we ever were before.
In 2015 where we are living in a time of hatred of hatred scarring us even further with unseen acts of violence. Our law enforcement officers have become prey for no other reason but a hatred born out of both self-defense or perhaps careless over aggression. Blood laden bullets must not shatter their dreams or those who lives suddenly came to an end. Does the American Dreamer dare or still care to dream his dreams of life that is filled with more good than bad.
As our lustful greed overcomes the best of what we dreamed of some of our dreams become ever more distant memories. When we only care about what is mine, what is in it for me, hooray for me the heck for you, the dreamers must dream powerfully enough so that they reach the heavens above to the only being that can help us save ourselves. The cynics would have us believe that the American Dreamer is a person who dreams his life away with visions of innocence and kindness that will never be again. Forgetting as they do that the fabric of our society which is now being torn asunder will be woven back together was the patchwork of dreams that came true.
Joni Mitchell so beautifully sang the lyrics of her song “Circle Game” which contained profound words of wisdom especially in the line she wrote:
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true. There’ll be new dreams maybe better dreams and plenty before the last revolving year is through.
Many of our dreams may have lost grandeur from not coming through as we had dreamed them. WE are still here to make new dreams try to come true should we dare, should we care. When there are dreams for sunnier skies there is hope that gets renewed. The romanticism of the American Dreamer has its own intrinsic value. Romanticism is gentle loving and tender. As the mother picks-up her new-born child for the first time she whispers her dreams for him. She dreams for him the good in humanity will become entrenched in his soul so that he may pass along that dream to his “children’s, children’s, children” (The Moody Blues).
Don’t let our dreams go by. Don’t let the dreams we dream die. Wake the American Dreamer from his dreamless slumber to ask him if he still dares to dream. If he still dares to dream (he will) then he will care again to dream. Tell him we need him to dream as only a dreamer can dream and to share his dreams with us.
Dreams are not a fantasy that whirls and twirls with all the grace of a ballerina in our heads as we sleep. Dreams are for us to hold onto so that we may keep going. To hold onto a dream so that one day it comes true as the word begins to turn away from the profanity that is today while moving towards the poetry of tomorrow.
Great message my friend. I dream of a world where people are kind and friend are treasured. Thank you my friend.
Larry, As always thank you for your kind words. Your dream is exactly what I am dreaming and hoping for. We can do our part but on the greater scale, I am not sure if we will ever see that.
Sadly I agree
In the whole, it is sad what we will probably never live to see or our children’s children may never live to see. However, the friendship along with the dreams we share is a vital step in the right direction. I would welcome the opportunity to say a quick hello to your over the phone. It’s always nice to hear the voice behind the words. Thank you, Larry, for all the support you have given me.
I just spoke with 2 refugee women this morning, one from China, and the other Korean who fled Russia, to the American Dream. When they shared their experiences of senseless violence, rage, and terrorism I was astounded that they could even laugh. They are living the American Dream. It may be time for Americans to wake up and ask what they can do to turn the American Nightmare back into the Dream before we are fleeing this country as refugees. Thanks for the reminder.
Kathleen,
Thank you so much for reading my article and sharing your knowledge with me. I concur with you that we must turn the American Nightmare back into the American Dream. Under President Trump, the prevailing climate is very anti-refugees as he is doing everything he can to severely restrict the influx of refugees into this country. We were not founded on principals like that.
Chris,
Technology has made such a tremendous difference in our lives in so many positive ways. The downside is that technology has made human to human or person to person contact at times obsolete or even worse taken away our ability to interact with people in person. Meeting new people in person has become even harder as we struggle to find the words to say. Chris I have to say (not a surprise) your comments are spot on and that I could not agree with you more. Thank you as usual.
I think the more connected we get, the more unhappy we tend to be. We become isolated. We become frustrated and then even more so when we remain in our own echo chambers having what we say and our misconceptions amplified and bounced back.
We are not dreaming because we’re not connecting with people. We are connecting only with technology, and that person on the other end is just a byproduct of the connection; not the driver of the connection.
Dreamers need to connect with real people in the old school way.
Ken, I tend to think dreams are something we hold on to. Something that may be possible that we can shoot for or just a few moments where some of the horrors of stresses of our “real life” disappear. Unfortunately, I am not as sold (I did vote for Trump) on our government as you are. Let me thank you for taking the time to read my article in addition to providing me with your comments.
I agree, Joel. In the face of pent-up rage, terrorism, and senseless violence too many have lost their will to dream. Of course, dreaming is simply an entertaining pastime if not hitched to faith and effort. One must believe that they can make their dream (s) happen and then work to do so.
Perhaps the new direction being sought in our federal government will lay the groundwork for us to again dream and believe.