Close up: Revolutionary malaise By Salama A Salama The nation has marked the first anniversary of the 25 January Revolution. Some celebrated the event and others said that the revolution remains unfinished and that it must continue until an elected civil regime is in power. Both views competed for the sentiments of thousands of Egyptians who headed to Tahrir Square to be part of the occasion. Side by side stood people who believe that the revolution has done well and those who think that the revolution has been hijacked. Side by side stood those who believe that deposing the former regime was enough and those who want the regime eradicated in every shape and form. Hardline revolutionaries say they cannot recognise the elections or accept the roadmap the interim authorities put together. They don't want to see the president elected after the constitution is written. And some of them say that are prepared to stage a sit-in until the People's Assembly speaker or any civil elected authority takes power. There is something idealistic and indeed illegal about this view, for the head of the legislative power must not be a head of the executive power as well, something the hard- line revolutionaries seem to conveniently overlook. A more sensible request has been proposed by other revolutionary youths; namely, that the parliament would form fact finding committees into the killing of protesters and the role the military played in such violations. Another sensible demand is that the men associated with the old regime be tried on charges of corrupting political life. Speaking on the anniversary of the revolution, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi admitted that the military has erred but said that the nation should not focus not on errors but on the good things the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has done. Tantawi also called on the revolutionary youths to form a party and start engaging in politics in a more systemic way. This is a good point, and it has been made by many since the revolutionaries started splitting into dozens of confusing alliances. Many among the revolutionary youths agree on this point. One of them recently sent me a letter saying that "the vanguard of the youths have not led the revolution and sacrificed their blood for the head of the regime to step down, but for all the regime to be eliminated and for a new regime to be installed in power, one that functions in a totally different manner. Many of the revolutionary youths do not trust the SCAF and regard it as a remnant of the old regime, and the alliance between the SCAF and the Islamists has only heightened their mistrust." One is not to expect the radical movements, such as the 6 April Movement, to change positions on the SCAF. Indeed, any regime with moderate views may be viewed by hard- line revolutionaries with suspicion. Unless this attitude changes, it may only be a matter of time before the Muslim Brotherhood youth clashes with the hard-line segment of the revolutionaries. Anniversaries are a time for unity, not bickering. The anniversary of the revolution, which was marked by those who are pleased and those who are displeased with the revolution, should be an occasion for the majority to rally behind common goals. Our parliamentary experiment is just beginning and we all have a lot to learn. No one said it was going to be easy, but we don't have to make it any harder. In other words, those who believe the revolution must give the country's institutions a chance are right. If the youth fail to do so, the revolution may end up not just sidetracked, but losing the public support it once had.
