“I Have a Dream” is the title given to a legendary public speech delivered by American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr on 28 August 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States. It was delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington. The speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. “I have a dream” was my state of mind amidst the 25 January Revolution. When the stand-offs turned into the 16 million people's revolution by 11 February 2011, my dream developed. It was the revolution of revolutions that would set the stage for Egyptians to move into a new era of social justice, freedom and equality. My state of mind since 25 January 2011 and today oscillates between a pendulum of “I had a dream” and “Do I still have a dream?” I move closer to “I had a dream” because many components of the dream did not happen. The dream continued to struggle, day after day, among the horrible events of Mohamed Mahmoud Street, the perimeter of the cabinet office, Maspero and other sorrowful events. Then the country nosedived into a division steep and acute by the end of November 2012, five months into the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. Today it is almost a year from the divisive constitutional decree issued by former president Mohamed Morsi that rocked the country bottom up. As the country was approaching 30 June 2013, I had a feeling that the situation had become untenable and that there must be a decisive turning point to bring back stability to Egypt. However, today, as we speak, the division of November 2012 sharpened and moved to new fronts. It is not only an anti- and pro-Morsi division, or pro and anti-Sisi; it has moved to a new front, to Bassem Youssef, the brilliant satirical performer, between those who are for him and those who are against him. At the beginning of this week clashes occurred between the six groups in the middle of Cairo. The first and second divisions are in a way related to political views, a way of life, and two opposing visions for the future of Egypt. The third division on Bassem Youssef and his show is a master blow to the tenants of freedom of opinion and expression. I have held the view before and after the revolution of January 2011 that free speech is a basic tenant of democracy, and therefore the suspension of Bassem Youssef's programme is a harsh blow to that basic tenant. I do oppose all talk show stars who cross the line and move from criticism to being impolite. I have held this view against many of the leading talk show stars that are quite popular. I do not think that their shows help solving the volatile situation in the country. However, it is up to the general public to decide to switch channels, when stars cross the line. In this context, I salute the team of stars of CBC who issued a very strong statement opposing the suspension of Bassem Youssef's programme by the station's administration. These ongoing deep divisions have created distance between my dream and what is happening on the ground. I had a dream after the 25 January Revolution that all Egyptians would work on realising a new country, where every Egyptian is blessed with healthcare, a good education, a normal life where food, clothes, marriage, a home are easy to obtain. These are the tenants of humanity. None are easily obtained in Egypt. Today, I try to hold to my dream, but it is slipping away from my thoughts. I hope I am wrong. Will Egypt manage to heal its multiple divisions as we approach 2014, and will my dream for a better Egypt come true, as the prophecy of Martin Luther King Jr was realised for his country?
