Twenty Questions to a Fellow Blogger Part CXLVII: Walaa Idris

(Walaa Idris)

Walaa Idris: The oldest of three, I have one of each, was born in West Germany but raised in Khartoum, Sudan - educated in a Catholic Convent, by Italian nuns from kindergarten, until secondary school. Have two degrees Psychology and Sociology plus Economics. Moved permanently to London (UK) in 1990 and became a card carrying Tory in June of 2000. My blog can be found here

What made you decide to start blogging?

For the best part of 2 years I was thinking about blogging, just thinking, and mentally talking my self out of it every time I came close. Always backed it with excuses from not enough time to my not so perfect English, then last year around this time it dawned on me that I will not have the opportunity to fight a parliamentary seat in the 2010 May elections (I was on the list of approved candidates and was applying for seats at the time). So, if I wanted to contribute to the political debate and stay in the political arena I needed to do more than being a spectator, I had to give my words and my thoughts a voice. With the help of a friend the blog was born, and my words had a voice and a platform.

What is your best blogging experience?

My first post, it had everything a political post should have including an unintentional spelling mistake but most of all it was librating and freeing. Being able to write opened up a new world for me, a sphere I could not belief I denied myself and my loyal readers for all that time. 

And your worst?

I don’t have a specific one to point to, but there have been a couple of times when I had loads of ideas going around in my head yet still had nothing worth writing about – I guess that qualify as my worst experience!

What do you regard as your best blog entry?

Every blog that touches a person or makes a point clearer or helps in any small way is a good entry – I write truthfully and from the heart, I blog with the full intention to make a difference, a positive and empowering difference. But if I had to choice one, then my open letter to Darren Bridgman, because I know it had the desired effect.

Favorite blogs?

There are many that I enjoy reading; I read between10 – 15 a day mostly political blogs. 

What inspired you to go into politics?

I am one of those lucky people who were brought up in a politically charged household, my mother a die hard liberal socialist and my dad a capitalist conservative – the saying “no sex, politics or religion on the dinner table” was invented for my family, but still politics and sometimes religion found their way to our dinning room. I was destined to become involved in politics in one way or another from an early age.

I love life, living and partaking in it, everything around us is affected in one way or another by politics and the decisions made and taken by politicians on our behalf. My love of life and the people around me is what inspires me everyday.

How did you initially feel about the Conservatives going into government with the Liberal Democrats. Did you have any concerns about Party unity?

At first I did not like or warm to the idea, even though I understood the veracity of the situation and the need to put aside political dogma for what’s best for the country; before the collation I didn’t trust the Liberal Democrats and my opinion of them was not at all that good, and am sure the feeling was reciprocated. But I promised myself to keep an open mind and put my trust on our leader and the negotiating team, and I am glad that I did – our coalition partners has proved to be trustworthy to work with and some I can even call friends now.

Party unity was of little concern, because we, Tories, are a disciplined bunch and can be grown up about what needs to be done, and without sounding arrogant, it is very Conservative to put country before personal feelings, I knew, some might take longer than others but at the end we will all unite behind our leader the Coalition and what’s best for Britain.

You recently, and in my view, rightly so, attacked some of those on the Left who gloated over Margaret Thatcher's recent bout of ill-health. But could you honestly say that no one on the Right would do the same about Gordon Brown in similar circumstances, and that some of the attacks on him went beyond political criticism? 

The simple answer is no, and there have been occasions when some on the right had tweeted or said openly some nasty things about our opponents, specially Gordon Brown, but it is wrong, tasteless and displays poor character. Politics should never ever be about personal attacks, dogma is one thing, but people’s health and life or death matters should never ever come into it.

I don’t like the politics of many people, but I first see people as people with families and friends that love and wants what best for them and that always puts things into prospective. But also I don’t hate, there are many people who I don’t particularly like but I never really hate.

Is there anywhere abroad which you haven't been to, that you would like to visit?

Mind you the furthest east I have been is Turkey, but I am very blessed in that I have seen and visited all the places I ever wanted to see. 

Is there anywhere abroad you have visited, that you would love to revisit?
Twenty years ago I camped and then walked up the Grand Canyon (it’s a big deal because I don’t do outdoors plus it was an exhilarating experience). I would like to do it again for the experience and to see if I am as fit as I was back then.

Who, excluding the present leader, do you regard as the best Conservative Party leader, and if different, the best Prime Minister?

I think we are very lucky because we had fantastic leaders but no one has yet to top Thatcher.

Major, as a Prime Minster was the stately man who took over the party and the country when both were going through a turbulent time safely to shore. Hague at the time was the protégé who was entrusted with managing a broken brand at a point in time when the whole country wanted nothing Conservative – but look at him now the Ambassador to Britain and Conservatism a man of true substance. As for IDS, the quite man who is silently transforming our society, our country back to being the fair, just and balanced nation it ought to be in a 21^st Century fashion

I have a soft spot for Cameron, the first time we met he was after my vote and took the time to convince me why I should cast it for him, and although slightly to the left of me I could see then he is the man who can move us to where we can become electable again. But I still struggled with giving him my vote because my heart and mind were in turmoil, however at the eleventh hour I gave in, and I am glad I did because I was right about him taking us to No 10. 

Which political figure (apart from Margaret Thatcher) has been your greatest inspiration?
Beside my father, Ronald Regan is my greatest inspiration, in politics and in life, his ability to persevere and overcome is a testament that giving up is never an option.

Favourite Bond movie?
Diamonds Are Forever - its enjoyable and because it gave us Sean Connery one more time

Favorite Doctor Who?
Sadly I never watched Doctor Who - So will not be able to answer that one

Chocolate, vanilla, or mint?
If ice cream then Vanilla, if a cake then Chocolate, and of course every good meal should end with fresh mint tea – I am a woman who likes variety.

Which Band, past or present, would you most like to see in concert?
Michael Jackson always and forever!

In terms of visiting for the weekend, Oxford, Cambridge, or Barsby, Leics..?
Definitely Oxford

Favourite national newspaper?
The Times

What would you say your hobbies were?

Dancing, blogging, Reading (but don’t tell my mum, to her reading is essential – she calls it brain food) hanging out with friends, people watching and doing nothing productive is my most favorite hobby which I try to indulge in once a week. 

And what would you say were your three favourite songs and three favourite books 
(Bar the Bible and The Complete Works of Shakespeare)?

I am a broad church when it comes to music and reading

Songs

1. “One Moment In Time”– by Whitney Huston is my own personal anthem
2. The first thing my father did every Moring while shaving is play Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No 9 (Molto vivace), at first us kids hated it but in time we grow to love and appreciate it – it takes me back to a time that is peaceful full of love and worry free.
3. There is always a new tune rattling around in my head – right now “I love the Way You Lie” by Rihanna and Eminem

Books

1. The Magic of thinking Big – By David J. Schwartz – it uplifts me whenever I feel a negative or a downward spiral coming my way – I first picked it at a very dark time in my life and it helped my through it.
2. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Is the first book (since Mario Puzo’s The Godfather) that kept me up - I literally devoured that book - picked up on a Friday and put it down early Monday morning.
3. My third is a controversial book by a controversial man, but in my humble opinion it is essential reading for anyone who is remotely interested in politics, because it is a part of history our history. Mine Kampf, by Adolf Hitler – a very hard book to read and understand (translation is poor) but a classic historical must read document.