As the compere for the India Today Conclave 2014 says, Maysoon Zayid lies when she says she is not inspirational.
Channeling the Jay Z song, she says she's got 99 problems, and nonchalantly adds that her cerebral palsy is just one of them. Throughout her shows (she is an actress and a stand-up comedian), she stresses mainly on the issues she has to face due to her faith, being brown skinned, living in New Jersey (!), and more. She actually states some of the perks of having CP (yes, she finds advantages in her affliction), such as that 'she can eat whatever she wants, because her CP causes her to shake so much that she just loses all the calories'. And, at the end of it all, she still claims that she is not inspiring.
Her talks and comedy shows move the audience not because she is differently abled, but because of her optimism. While she very visibly has a physical disability (and she makes it a point to point it out during some of her talks), when she begins to speak, you only notice her optimism, her humor and the cheer she spreads. She comes across as a talented, hilarious person, not as a person with an affliction, giving a public speech. And that is exactly the kind of awareness she tries to spread. To make everyone realize that every person is much more than their hair color, their eye color and their disability.
Her anti-discrimination comments may not change incorrect stereotypes about her faith. However, she is changing attitudes worldwide about people with disability and their acceptance into society, and it is up to each of us to decide to link arms with her, and change the world to make it a safer, more inclusive, kinder and more accepting place.
Watch her talk at the India Today Conclave here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPGUt1W7bXo
