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| Home Front: Politix | |
| Saudi-Born female eyes U.S. political office | |
| 2004-10-04 | |
| You may not have heard of her yet, but you are sure to hear a lot about this ambitious talented woman as November approaches. Masry surprised everyone when she was selected as the Democratic candidate for California's37 th Assembly District in March2004 , breaking ground for Arab women in the US political arena. In an amazingly spectacular write in campaign, which is almost unprecedented in California, she garnered local, national and international attention for her outstanding achievement and for her unique background. Ferial Amin Masry has qualified as a Democratic write-in candidate in the 37th Assembly District for the fall general election while winning a seat outright on the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee. If elected in November, the 55 -year-old U.S. government teacher would become the nation's first Saudi born to hold elective office in the U.S., becoming California's first Arab American woman to serve in the Legislature, and one of only a few in the nation to be elected as a state lawmaker. In the meantime, Masry is certainly occupied with thoughts of her oldest child, Mohammed Omar Masry, aged 24 , a U.S. Army sergeant in Baghdad, helping to rebuild Iraqi schools. "He has a lot of conversations with people in the Arab world, trying to introduce them to the other side of America: why it's there and what it's trying to do," she said. "And in my campaign, I'm representing a lot of [Arab] women who don't have a chance. I'm giving a new dimension to people's understanding of the Middle East." Masry was born in Mecca into the upper middle class. Her father earned a living by arranging pilgrimages to the holiest city of Islam. She was educated in Egypt and graduated from the University of Cairo with a degree in journalism. Masry said she gained her strength from her mother and other female relatives. She lived in London, Nigeria and Canada, before arriving in the U.S. in 1979 , the only one of seven siblings to immigrate to America. Three brothers still live in the Saudi Kingdom and three sisters in London. She moved with her husband Waleed to Southern California in 1979. Waleed and Ferial Masry opened a small business upon arriving in the Golden State. She then returned to school for a teaching credential and a Masters Degree in School Administration from California Lutheran University. Today, she teaches government and history at Cleveland High School in Los Angeles. She stresses to her students, who come from many ethnic backgrounds, that they must learn their history and be proud of who they are. Once settled in Ventura County in 1983 , she raised three children and for 10 years ran an Islamic school that taught culture and the Arabic language. On the political front, Masry protested against the 1991 Persian Gulf War. She describes the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan as "aggression" and believes the current Iraq War is a mistake, too. "The U.S. destroyed the whole Middle East by attacking Afghanistan," she said.
Meanwhile, back in her native country, her success has not gone unnoticed. "I was the first woman ever to be on the cover of a Saudi magazine without a headscarf," she said. Masry would like to be an inspiration to Saudis, as well as Americans. "I think a lot of people are watching, especially women," she said. "It gives them hope and courage to ask for their rights." Regardless of the outcome of the November elections, one thing is clear — Masry is a true leader and serves as an inspiration and role model for many other Arab Americans who wish to take part in U.S. politics or in any other influential field. The question that remains on the minds of many, especially in the Middle East is obvious — what would be the political chances of this woman in her native homeland? | |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 âThe U.S. destroyed the whole Middle East by attacking Afghanistan,â she said. Ahh yes, she likes a terrorist and dictator-infested Middle East better. Well, she's free to return there if she wishes. The question is, would she? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-10-04 4:26:11 PM |
| #5 In just 25 short years she has crossed that great divide and become a dhimicrat. Looking at her past residence I am not surprised. She was on the liberal underground railroad to America (UK-CAN-US). Wonder what her chances are? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2004-10-04 2:05:09 PM |
| #4 She describes the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan as âaggressionâ Which of the following did she have to say about Sept 11 (check all that apply) o Mossad did it o CIA did it o It was simply a bad day for aviation: all the pilots were drunk and there was no other "foul play" involved o The buildings fell because of faulty (Jewish) engineering o bin laden did it, but he's a Jew o allah akhbar |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2004-10-04 1:52:09 PM |
| #3 "The U.S. destroyed the whole Middle East by attacking Afghanistan" Since most definitions of the "Middle East" only go as far east as Iran, that would make this the Mother of All Collateral Damage. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2004-10-04 1:12:42 PM |
#2 On the political front, Masry protested against the 1991 Persian Gulf War. She describes the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan as âaggressionâ and believes the current Iraq War is a mistake, too.Yep, she's a Dim, all right. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-10-04 12:48:02 PM |
| #1 On the positive side, if you don't like the policies she implements you can throw acid in her face and sell her for a goat. |
| Posted by: BH 2004-10-04 12:17:14 PM |