The world is broken | Maysoon Zayid | TEDxAthens
161,103
Published 2014-12-01
Maysoon Zayid is an actress, professional standup comedian, and writer. She received a BA in Acting from Arizona State University. She is the co-founder and co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival. Maysoon was a full-time On Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and has most recently appeared on The Queen Latifah Show and The Meredith Vieira Show. Maysoon is a recurring columnist at The Daily Beast and was a speaker at TEDWomen 2013. Maysoon has appeared on Comedy Central, PBS, CNN, HBO, MTV, ABC, BBC, and had a feature role in Adam Sandler's You Don't Mess With the Zohan. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has toured extensively in the United States and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and The Muslims Are Coming Tour. Maysoon's screenplay, LAW, was chosen for the Sundance Middle Eastern Screenwriters Lab and she was named one of 21 leaders of the 21st century by Women's Enews. She is the founder of Maysoon's Kids, a scholarship and wellness program for disabled and wounded refugee children and was delighted to be a 2013 honoree of United Cerebral Palsy NYC's Women Who Care Awards.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
All Comments (21)
-
"You can't say can't, unless you try." Powerful words.
-
Tough crowd...damn. I love her !
-
This crowd must not understand anything. You are awesome Maysoon!!!!
-
Maysoon you are incredible!! The audience wasn't giving you enough credit :)
-
I'm a Physical Therapist AND a Palestinian and this put the biggest smile on my face. I am currently working with CP kids mostly and it's so challenging to say the least but every time we notice an improvement it's honestly the best feeling ever, I can't put it into words. To all those with CP, or any form of "disability", don't let society define your abilities... disability is a state of mind you CAN overcome it when you start to believe you can. Also, I've seen so many cases (especially in pediatrics) when the doctors said patient can't walk ever again, and with the grace of God and INTENSIVE Physio they were able to take their first steps. So hang in there, and don't even lose hope. So proud of her and so proud to be a Physical Therapist. This is why I wanted to become one. All the love xox
-
The crowd sucks!!! I hope she didn’t feel like she did a bad job
-
Maysoon , I am now 59, I have C.P . Walk with crutches and due to surgeries am able to do so. I am the mother of two grown children I raised as a single parent after divorce. I am now a proud grandmother of five. Thanks for your message it needed to be said.My arenas raised me as normal and treated me that way for which I am grateful.
-
World needs more people like Maysoon! Thank you Maysoon for being such a marvelous person!
-
I love her quoting The Beetles and Rolling Stones! So cool!
-
Just watched her other talk too, and she's both absolutely hilarious (more so in the other talk) and an incredible person for fighting so hard to make the world a better place for all sorts of people, from those with disabilities to Arabs and Muslims. I'll be checking out her stand up, as she's one of the funniest comedians I've seen in a long while
-
She is the best speaker ever. Tho the crowd most of them are dead
-
she is insprational. I have mild CP. I'm so glad she is letting us all know there no sham in asking for help.or falling ever now and then.😊😊😊
-
I just saw Maysoon on CNN, and I loved her view on the subject. So I looked her up on YouTube, and wow, this woman is so intelligent. We need to see more of her, and embrace her words.
-
I believe in equality too she is very inspiring
-
Wow. I'm kind of shocked to see adults on their tablets at a talk like this. It's disrespectful. But I guess I'll just let it go! :)
-
Thank you for speaking the truth bravely. I’m Jewish and I believe in the Right of Return for all Palestinians and pray for a single equal state. I agree with you! I also have a physical disability and have used a chair since age 21. Your earlier TED talk was hilarious! Thank you so much!
-
Amazing, courageous, beautiful soul. Our world needs more of you, Maysoon!
-
"We are a society that goes online with a desire to tear down other people" 5.35......onwards
-
Oh my god I was completely blown by this. I cried. How incredibly brave of her? So raw, emotionally powerful and brutal honesty.
-
Maysoon is amazing.. courageous, funny, straight forward, and credible.
