The privilege to dream

Keisha Castle-Hughes, star, at the age of 13, in Whale Rider, one of the most successful New Zealand films ever, said that she dreamed of being an actress and living within the sight of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles since she was nine years old. She was very lucky to have the chance to dream. I wonder what children who live in enclosed communities like my grandchildren, like children in the closed world of fundamental religious sects, be they Muslim or Brethren, can dream about. Girls who can sing only in front of an audience of women, or have to be invisible to men, being covered up from head to foot cannot even imagine the bright lights of Hollywood. Can they imagine having successful careers, being powerful heads of large corporations, being top professionals? Or are they brought up to be slaves in their kitchens, be good, compliant wives, cook, clean, bring up children, and keep their heads down? And of course, girls who can dream about being happy, competent wives and mothers are lucky to be able to have such dreams. I can't help thinking about the millions of girls in war torn regions whose dream is to survive for another day, to avoid being raped, to keep out of harms way. For them even having a home, having a family that can live in peace might seem like an unattainable dream. Girls like Keisha Castle-Hughes and other girls living in a place like New Zealand are incredible lucky. I just hope that they appreciate their good fortune.