Immeasurable Dream

By Kim See-bong

Neurologists say that a considerable portion of our sleeping time, about 25 percent, is spent in dreaming and the difference between individuals is not whether or not they dream, but whether or not they remember their dreams.

If they are prevented from dreaming, they show a semi-pathological reaction.

Aside from the heart and lungs, the brain is the only organ that remains active during sleep, while the rest of the body is in a state of rest. And one area in which such active phenomenon is recognized is dreaming. Dreaming proves the need for constant excitation of the brain.

However, when we insist only on the neurological side of dreaming, it's like we look through a human body using X-rays, which shows nothing but a skeleton. Not only the bones comprising the human body but also the flesh covering them to form lines and curves creates the perfect human body.

In addition to the scientific interpretation of our dreaming, when we mention dreaming in our daily life, we mean hope, aspiration, vision and ambition. A life without dreams is like a desert without sand. Dreams provide impetus, meaning, to life.

The human body is comparable to human society. Our society has been stuck in the mud for a while, neither moving forward nor backward. Our society is on the point of busting up in many social aspects.

The deterioration of our national morals and beautiful time-old traditions, and the disappearance of national ethos are seriously felt in every nook and cranny of our society.

What else exists in our society except empty, impracticable political slogans from the politicians, and mountains of makeshift and impromptu policies improvised only for political purposes by the government?

However, such policies aggravate the situation and breed problem after problem again, a permanent cycle of faux pas.

A society without dreams is a society without hope and this is what our nation is. Then, what should be the dream for our society? What is the stimulation for the brain of our society? We need a new dream to reactivate our society to move out of the swamp we have fallen into. We have to move on with sense of direction.

An historical drama ``Dae Jo-yung'' has been running for almost a year, and its popularity has not declined. Even on my business trips abroad, I hurry back to my room not to miss the drama, which plays on weekends. The pleasure of waiting for the weekend to watch the drama has been a source of great pleasure to me.

I gave deep thought to the reason for the national popularity of the drama. It was the dream it conveys to the heart of the people.

The hero's grandiose ambition to recover the national spirit as well as the immeasurably important territory of the ancient Goguryeo Kingdom, his philosophy and wisdom of life, and the courage that he applies to achieve his ambition are supplying the audience with catharsis.

The devotion and courage he shows for the accomplishment of his dream relieve the audience of all the grievances of our cloudy society and give vent to our heavy heart.

The hero's fight for his people carries truth and sincerity, his fearless, confident call for them to follow him convinces them and additionally the actor's earnest actions provides the audience with empathy and make them feel they are part of real history.

The future of our society should grow on dreams. Dreams provide our society with the hope that it lives on. Then, what is our current hope, which will direct our present toward a good history?

Regrettably, we have no dream, no hope, and no aim. Our society is an object floating aimlessly, and randomly. If there is any, the only aim will be to make as much money as possible to buy possessions.

The popularity of the drama reflects the social phenomenon that our society is sick and in despair and waiting for something or somebody new and fresh that can give it a refreshing shot in the arm.

People are looking for a leader of integrity equipped with morals, justice and generosity like the hero of the drama, Dae Jo-yung. The hero presents a great dream, immeasurable in size, to his descendants through the drama.

Kim See-bong is an education consultant residing in Montreal, Canada. He can be reached at glsacademy@dreamwiz.com.