“A dream you dream together is reality”

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream.  A dream you dream together is reality.”

– John Lennon

In dreams, we are gifted with super powers, and with the ability to do extraordinary things. The euphoria one gets from mass mobilization gives us the same feeling. It allows us to dream that the impossible is possible. Armed with only this belief, we continue to demand justice and change, believing that nothing will stop us.

At the start of the revolution in February 2011, I had very high expectations, and despite my usual over analysing personality, I did not allow any negative energy to seep in.

In April 2011, when some unexpected forces, such as General Ali Muhsin “joined” the pro-democracy movement, and when certain elements of the opposition imposed their intolerance on others, the colors in my dream started to fade.

Today, after many high hopes have been crushed, I dream only in black and white.

I still believe in the power of the people to do amazing things, but I also believe that the extraordinary will take time to become a reality.  Long term change requires a long journey.

Like a video game, this journey is filled with many challenges (poverty, lack of security, foreign and regional interferences, airstrikes, corruption etc), but hopefully we can reach our ultimate goal.

In that long journey, I hope that I never reach the point where I stop dreaming. But if I find myself stuck in a constant nightmare, I ask you to please wake me up.