Wonderful Women Of The World
Posted by Michelle Moquin on March 30th, 2014
Good morning!
I know it’s Sunday. And I know I already posted about Wonderful Women of the World yesterday. But I just couldn’t resist posting this Wonderful Woman today. Enjoy! I certainly did!
Ted Speaker: Maysoon Zayid
Why you should listen
Early in her acting career, Maysoon Zayid realized she’d get a lot more stage time if she showed off how funny she was. As she told the BBC, “It became very obvious to me that in the United States of America, a fluffy ethnic disabled chick was never going to get a job unless she did stand-up.”
A Palestinian woman from New Jersey, Zayid jokes about her family, global culture, and her life with cerebral palsy. Along with Dean Obeidallah, she founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival, now in its 10th year. She spends several months of the year in the Palestinian Territories running workshops for disabled and orphaned kids in refugee camps, using art to help them deal with trauma. And yes — if you’re an Adam Sandler fan, you’ll recognize Zayid as the woman behind the beauty-shop counter in You Don’t Mess With the Zohan.
What others say
*****
What I say
I loved watching and listening to this Wonderful Woman of the World. And as I did, I enjoyed her honesty, humor, and authenticity so much that her disability faded away, and her radiant spirit soared.
Zayid has inspired me to think about the definition of the word “normal.” What is “normal?” Do we think of disabled people as, in the words of Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein, “Abby Normal?” Zayid says, “People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world.” I didn’t know that. And if it is true, and I don’t really know but I have no reason not to take Zayid’s word for it. It begs the question…So,really then…What is “normal?”
Thoughts? Blog me.
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March 30th, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Dear Friend,
Stopping the flow of special interest money in elections. Overcoming seemingly endless obstruction in the Senate.
There are not many people in Washington who have the steely backbone to stand with me on issues like these. But Senator Tom Udall from New Mexico is one of them.
I’ve seen him in action, and worked with him side-by-side. Ever since Tom came to the Senate, he has brought a determination and attitude to his work that makes me proud to call him a colleague.
Tom is the kind of Senator that this country needs to help lead us into the future — but right now, he needs our help.
With the FEC deadline coming up on March 31st, Tom is working now to build his support by reaching $125,000. Can you help me help Tom with a contribution of $5 or more today?
I truly appreciate the support you have given me over the years. But our victory in 2012 was not the end of the road for our grassroots network — it was just another beginning.
Nothing will stop the Koch brothers or their special interest allies from spending millions of dollars against people like Tom. They think that’s how you win elections.
But here’s a little secret they haven’t figured out: Grassroots supporters won’t stop fighting against them.
Tom has just 2 days left to meet his $125,000 goal before the FEC closes the book on this quarter. Help him reach it by contributing $5 or more right now.
Thank you for helping me support Tom Udall.
Dianne Feinstein
March 30th, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Maysoon, loved your appearance on TED .. You are an outstanding lecturer People like you inspire me. My son had a rare cancer disease. We were told by doctors he would have delayed damage the rest of his life. They were compared with cerebral palsy because the symptoms were similar. He was two and a half years when he got the disease
Now he plays football and is fifteen years old. It is so important the work you do. You inspire others so they do not lose faith. It was important for us not to lose hope that one day he could do what he loved most: to move. By inspiration from people like you, we got faith and hope. I want to thank you from all my heart continue to inspire.
Continue to do what you do because it means so much to those who have a tough time ahead.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Outstanding! So inspiring. Thank you for building this bridge with our brothers and sisters with disabilities.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:34 pm
I am agree with your father, if you want, you can and you, Maysoon, are the best and beautiful example of it.
When you said that you are the victim of bullying on Internet for your disability, angers me, because I think that the disabled people can actually do more in life than the “normal” people of society.
I think that our society, specially the media, treat unfairly the handicapped people and I agree with you about to teach the young generation to respect the people in general, it does not matter the race, the color, or if we have disabilities or not, the important is the own value, our personality.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:35 pm
Oh, girlfriend! You ROCK!!
March 30th, 2014 at 11:39 pm
When are you coming to Vermont, Maysoon?
March 30th, 2014 at 11:44 pm
Loved it. Disable or not. You are just too funny. What an amazing woman and journey. Thank you for sharing it with us.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:52 pm
Michelle, how are you keeping this site open with all the people who must be upset with the different topics you allow to be discussed on this blog?
March 31st, 2014 at 6:44 am
I laughed and cried. She’s beyond awesome, her father also. Luv, Sen Lill