"For the Dreamers"

The speakers sputter a little, and there is a long pause. I hold my breath and finally exhale when the music reaches my ears. Soft piano plays and John Lennon sings:

“Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky.”

Listening to this song, heavy grief weighs down on my heart. I think about the people that are dying. Some died of hunger. Some sacrificed their lives fighting for their country. Some were killed in an explosion somewhere. The song sounds unrealistic to my ears, the imagination of a peaceful future being ethereal in my eyes.

“Imagine all the people

Living life in peace.”

If I don’t believe in a peaceful future, how can I realize it? How can young people like me realize it? We train young people to serve in the army, to kill. A child dies of starvation every ten minutes. War has only fuelled poverty and caused more sorrow. How can I imagine peace?

“You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one.”

Yet… How can I not imagine peace? After all, I am also a dreamer. I dream of children laughing and playing in a park, away from blasts and predators. I dream of universal brotherhood, renunciation of war, and peaceful co-existence.

So, I place my hand on my heart and let myself dream a little longer.

I smile. I smile because the coming youth, people like me, dream of painting the world in hues of peace. We might just succeed in becoming global speakers, becoming saviours of humanity, and bringing the world to realize the truth.

“What a beautiful song!” the radio jockey’s voice comes to life. He leans closer to the mic and whispers, “You may say he’s a dreamer, but he’s not the only one…”