The book Don Quixote was written in the 1600's by Miguel de Cervantes. In more recent times it became a musical called Man of La Mancha. It is a comic tragedy of a man and his struggle against all odds. Quixote is an knight errant during the Spanish Inquistion. In prison as he tells his story he is dubbed the knight of woeful countenance. From Quixote we derived the word quixotic, meaning extravagantly chivalrous and romantically idealistic.

The story has stood the test of time because it is ageless; or is it? Somewhere along the way we lost our idealism instead became cynical. Maybe that is where we, as man have failed. We forgot our dreams in our struggle to survive. We strive to get by or to gain material wealth. We are dummied down in school and made to fit in an exact mould. We listen to the news but are expected to except it as the truth without question. Where have our dreams gone?

To dream of a world at peace. To dream of a world without want. Idealism seems to be out for the count. Those who do stand by ideals are labeled as fanatics, trouble makers, or heaven forbid, not politically correct. If you stand up for what is right you may live in fear of someone arresting you or denying you the right to board a plane.

The words to the song "Impossible Dream" must become our creed. We need to dream the impossible dreams as individuals, as a nation ,and as the world. Striving to conquer our own troubles and the world's around us. What is your dream? Be an idealist, stand by it and go forward. Join with others and follow the quest for a better tommorow.