It was encouraging to listen to the supportive statements made by about 130 Heads of State or Government at the 81st session of the UN GA. Most Delegations demanded greater efforts for ending armed conflicts and for peaceful negotiations, Will there be constructive follow-up? The President of the Republic of Korea asked in his closing statement “to dream for a better tomorrow.” Dreaming will not suffice. A lot of serious work is needed and a way needs to be found to redesign the Security Council.
Everyone dreams, but few dreams result in actions. I usually have no idea what I dreamt. But some dreams are tangible and can inspire you.
Living life in peace.
You may say I am a dreamer
But I am not the only one.
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one.
Sone dreams are pure fantasies, unusual visions, ideas, even magic. Sometimes, plans and projects develop all of a sudden. Some are inspired by dreams. According to ABBA
“I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail.”
Such was the case in Los Angeles some seventy years ago. An Italian immigrant, Sabato “Simon” Rodia, translated such a dream into the construction of three towers in the Watts area of LA. Sam, as he was called, decided to “build a tribute to his adopted country and a monument to the spirit of individuals who make their dreams tangible” (Wikipedia quote). For thirty three years he gathered left-over tiles, pieces of porcelain, soda bottles and rebars and cemented them in an artistic way to build several towers. In the early sixties, when I lived in LA, Watts was not very popular, but visitors came to admire the towers, and so did I. The City of LA almost demolished the towers and Sam left. But now, the Watts Towers are a National Historic Landmark. attracting thousands of visitors each year. They also serve as a youth and community center.
My nephew and his wife were vacationing in North-Western France, the Bretagne, and sent me photos from the Art Park in Lizio. It’s called L’Univers du Poete Ferrailleur (The Universe of the poet who deals in scrap metals). The poet is Robert Coudray, a professional filmmaker, sculptor, builder, artist and , man-of-all-trades, who for thirty years has built a fantasy world and delighted people with his whimsical creations of towers, houses, sculptures and all kinds of moving machines.. The exhibits include also films he has made.
Preceding Sam Rodia and Robert Caudray in the 19th and 20th century were the great visionary artists of Spain: Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. Much of their work dealt with surrealistic images, maybe dreams?
And there was the builder/architect Antoni Gaudi, who designed unusual structures in Barcelona, including the Basilica Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Like Sam Rodia in Watts, Antoni Gaudi used pieces of ceramic and tiles to create colorful mosaics. Although I had been in Barcelona several times and had seen some of Gaudi’s creations, I never had the time to go to Park Güell.
Among the early innovative dreamers of Spain was Miguel Cervantes, the 16th/17th century novelist who created the famous figure of Don Quixote.
This seems an unlikely role model, but his “credo” as expressed in his song in the musical “Man of La Mancha” is inspiring He has a lot of imagination and the courage to fight even if the odds are against him, - and “to right the unrightable wrong” (- how many politicians would dare to do that and risk losing their power?). And to “follow that glorious quest, no matter how hopeless, The world will be better for this.”
The lyrics are like a manifesto (adapted and recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1966), and it is enjoyable listening to the song. Probably all of us have dreamt “the impossible dream” - hoping for peace and more support for the weakest of human kind, the children.
“To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
Everyone dreams, but few dreams result in actions. I usually have no idea what I dreamt. But some dreams are tangible and can inspire you.
Eleanor Roosevelt said “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
John Lennon of the Beatles dreamt of a world without boarders and he sang
“Imagine all the people Living life in peace.
You may say I am a dreamer
But I am not the only one.
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one.
Sone dreams are pure fantasies, unusual visions, ideas, even magic. Sometimes, plans and projects develop all of a sudden. Some are inspired by dreams. According to ABBA
“I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail.”
Such was the case in Los Angeles some seventy years ago. An Italian immigrant, Sabato “Simon” Rodia, translated such a dream into the construction of three towers in the Watts area of LA. Sam, as he was called, decided to “build a tribute to his adopted country and a monument to the spirit of individuals who make their dreams tangible” (Wikipedia quote). For thirty three years he gathered left-over tiles, pieces of porcelain, soda bottles and rebars and cemented them in an artistic way to build several towers. In the early sixties, when I lived in LA, Watts was not very popular, but visitors came to admire the towers, and so did I. The City of LA almost demolished the towers and Sam left. But now, the Watts Towers are a National Historic Landmark. attracting thousands of visitors each year. They also serve as a youth and community center.
My nephew and his wife were vacationing in North-Western France, the Bretagne, and sent me photos from the Art Park in Lizio. It’s called L’Univers du Poete Ferrailleur (The Universe of the poet who deals in scrap metals). The poet is Robert Coudray, a professional filmmaker, sculptor, builder, artist and , man-of-all-trades, who for thirty years has built a fantasy world and delighted people with his whimsical creations of towers, houses, sculptures and all kinds of moving machines.. The exhibits include also films he has made.
Preceding Sam Rodia and Robert Caudray in the 19th and 20th century were the great visionary artists of Spain: Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. Much of their work dealt with surrealistic images, maybe dreams?
And there was the builder/architect Antoni Gaudi, who designed unusual structures in Barcelona, including the Basilica Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Like Sam Rodia in Watts, Antoni Gaudi used pieces of ceramic and tiles to create colorful mosaics. Although I had been in Barcelona several times and had seen some of Gaudi’s creations, I never had the time to go to Park Güell.
Among the early innovative dreamers of Spain was Miguel Cervantes, the 16th/17th century novelist who created the famous figure of Don Quixote.
This seems an unlikely role model, but his “credo” as expressed in his song in the musical “Man of La Mancha” is inspiring He has a lot of imagination and the courage to fight even if the odds are against him, - and “to right the unrightable wrong” (- how many politicians would dare to do that and risk losing their power?). And to “follow that glorious quest, no matter how hopeless, The world will be better for this.”
The lyrics are like a manifesto (adapted and recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1966), and it is enjoyable listening to the song. Probably all of us have dreamt “the impossible dream” - hoping for peace and more support for the weakest of human kind, the children.
“To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To be better far than you are
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To be willing to give when there's no more to give
To be willing to die so that honor and justice may live
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.”
To be better far than you are
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To be willing to give when there's no more to give
To be willing to die so that honor and justice may live
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.”
Thanks, Horst. We say that we don't remember our dreams when we wake, but perhaps we do, and they drive us to ever greater quests than we realize. Perhaps those fractured bits of dreams are reassembled in our accomplishments, just as artists assemble monuments out of junk.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is people like you, Tom.and Horst that keeps the dreams alive. That do I believe lead to a better world for all of us. Our grandparents may have taught us that the road to hell is based on good intentions, but the good-hearted ones would also add. So is the road to heaven.
ReplyDeleteI'm encouraged by the practical suggestions and concerns express during this latest general assembly. Even small steps, such as have an agreement that at least two of the five permanent members have to veto. In order for something to be stopped would be progress in my view.
I am mindful that even during the second world war, the people that originally supported the league of nations, and others who came to view The Goal and the idea
Of international cooperation no matter how flawed was better than the alternative
Of the law of the jungle.
These people did not give up and they were ready to offer advice. And suggestions on how to make the developing organization of the united nations an improvement over the league. In that sense, the league did not fail. It was a step towards a more perfect international cooperation.
Our minds may tell us all the faults and the limitations we see in the attempts at international cooperation
Are an indication that no good is coming of it.
However our hearts and souls (which I feel. givev us the inspiration to believe that we can make a difference)
Are really the most important guiding force.
For my part, when questioned , I have continued to point out 4 things that are worth stressing. If we know the most important thing to remember is the "vision of the united nations"
For those who are sincerely questioning what to keep in mind in these, sometimes traveling times. we need to continue to build on:
1.The Charter of the UN. .especially no starting preemptive wars
2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights without double standards
3. Sustainable Development Goals- as worthy of practical Discussion and adjustment based on continued striving for the common good.
4. The message that is so aptly depicted in the Norman Rockwell mosaic on the 3rd floor of the U. N secretariat and seen by many on the visitor's tour. With the inscription" do unto others, as you would have them do. Unto you"
- with gratitude for all the other "dreamers of past and future times"
-adhiratha keefe
s.
Thanks, Adhiratha, for your thoughtful comments, Yes, we can make a difference. Dreams can become reality,, like today's celebration of the reunification of the two Germanys.
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