The Subtle Art of the Spoken Word | Omar Farah | TEDxUAlberta
Omar Farah argues that while technical solutions (like technology or money) are often mobilized to solve world problems, the most profound power remains in dialogue, which requires returning to the vital local stories and personal connections of place. He suggests that humanity should focus on fostering open conversation, drawing historical parallels to the poetic conflict resolution of Somalia while advocating for an immediate and unwavering commitment to personal relationships. This must be coupled with recognizing systemic injustices, exemplified by instances of police misconduct.
## Speakers & Context
- **Omar Farah (Nada Farah)** — Speaker who also goes by Nada Farah.
- Speaking on the "little red dot" for the second time.
- Describes self as *"an engineer in training and a poet on Tuesdays."*
## Theses & Positions
- Dialogue is identified as one of the greatest powers available to solve world problems.
- The most significant resource is the "real privilege" that comes from the place one was born.
- Speaking and storytelling is presented as a means to an end (like money or technology) to inspire change, critique the world, or express love.
- The true meaning of life is numerically stated as **82.14** years, which is framed as a calculation based on lifespan segments.
- The historical and cultural precedent of poetry used in Somalia for conflict resolution (rather than force) should be revived.
- The primary failure in addressing modern societal ills is relying only on technological fixes or financial intervention.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Dialogue:** Described as one of the greatest powers; posited as the necessary first step to solving world problems.
- **Numerology:** A field of study being balanced against the speaker's practice of poetry.
- **The Meaning of Life:** Stated to be **82.14** years exactly, representing the average time before a life trajectory plateaus.
- **Novel Privilege:** The speaker argues the "real privilege" is tied to the location of one's birth.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Poetic Conflict Resolution (Somali Context):** When two tribes had a conflict, they would send their best poets to confront rivals, resulting in a rhetorical contest where the winner proved their case without shedding blood.
- **Communication Shift:** Demonstrates the transition from physical conflict resolution (swords) to rhetorical confrontation (poets/dialogue).
- **Critique Mechanism:** Using poetry/writing as a means to "inspire to bring about change" or "critique the world."
- **Failure Mechanism:** The tendency to solve problems by "throwing money at it" or relying solely on technology.
## Timeline & Sequence
- **Historical Precedent (Somalia):** The traditional conflict resolution method using poets to avoid bloodshed.
- **Past Anecdote:** The incident recorded on the **iPhone 6** involving police misconduct.
- **Present/Current Action:** The speaker delivering the address on the "little red dot."
- **Modern Misdirection:** The current reliance on the **24-hour** news cycle and rapid media saturation.
## Named Entities
- **Asha:** Little girl who asked the speaker a question about poetry.
- **Jeffrey Sachs:** Harvard professor who worked alongside the **UN** and was the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia.
- **Leonardo, Dante, Rakesh, Samuel Jackson:** Actors referenced in a hypothetical future movie ensemble.
## Numbers & Data
- **42:** The alleged answer to life, the universe, and everything.
- **10 years:** Duration associated with 42-related jokes.
- **42:** Age at which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert died; number of grandchildren they had; age at which Edward the eighth abdicated; duration of the *Doctor Who* episode titled 42.
- **42 minutes:** Duration of the albums *Back in Black*, *The Dark Side of the Moon*, and *Thriller*.
- **42 kilometers per hour:** Alleged speed of the Titanic before hitting the iceberg.
- **82.14:** The stated exact number for the meaning of life.
- **82 years:** Total lifespan suggested by the speaker's model.
- **One third (of lifespan):** Estimated time spent in bed.
- **27 years:** Estimated time spent resting in bed.
- **55 years:** Estimated time left to live to the fullest extent.
- **10 years:** Initial period ("for the first 10 years") where one "doesn't really exist."
- **K to 12:** Educational span mentioned.
- **3 years:** Time allocated for basic maintenance (meal prep/cooking/eating).
- **4.3 years:** Total time spent in structured activity (school, travel, etc.).
- **20 to 65:** Age range for non-stop work.
- **40 hours a week:** Standard working hours.
- **32 hours per month:** Time spent looking at a phone or desktop.
- **3.2 years:** Duration equivalent to 32 hours per month spent on screens.
- **1134:** Number of young black men killed in **2015/2016**.
- **2015/2016:** Years associated with the 1134 deaths.
## Examples & Cases
- **Victoria/Albert Deaths:** Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dying at age **42**.
- **Page 42:** The finding in *Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* that the phrase *"you're a wizard"* appeared on page 42.
- **Pop Culture Patterning:** The coincidence of the **42** theme across pop culture (Doctor Who, albums, Titanic speed).
- **Somali Conflict Resolution:** The traditional method of having the best poets confront rivals in a contest of rhetoric.
- **Financial Hypothetical:** Spending **$50,000** on something better than the initially proposed item, such as returning home to loved ones.
- **Police Incident:** The speaker recounts recording an incident where police exceeded boundaries, referencing his brother who *"had no blood left to bleed."*
- **Black Lives Matter Analogy:** Comparing the movement to a movie (*"the new cinematic feat starring Leonardo as the black Dante Rakesh Samuel Jackson is in it of course"*), suggesting a commodification of activism.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **iPhone 6:** Device used by the speaker to record the police misconduct incident.
- **Technology (General):** The ability to send a thought instantaneously from one place to another across the ocean.
## References Cited
- *Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (Book by Douglas Adams).
- **Biblical/Philosophical Concept:** The discussion surrounding the "meaning of life."
- **UN:** Organization worked alongside by **Jeffrey Sachs**.
- **Somali Cultural Practice:** The poetic confrontation between rival tribes.
- **Missouri/Illinois/Libya/Tunisia/Egypt:** Locations where technology was used by students to overthrow oppressive regimes.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
- **Poetry vs. Numerology:** The balancing act the speaker attempts to maintain in his art.
- **Rhetoric vs. Force:** The choice between the poetic confrontation of Somalia and armed conflict.
- **Technology Solution vs. Human Connection:** The choice between technological fixes (like the *iPhone 6* recording) and addressing deep, local stories.
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- **Coincidence Probability:** The speaker admits the connections to **42** are merely *"coincidence possible"* or *"coincidence maybe."*
- **Skepticism of Expertise:** Skepticism regarding foreign experts (like those offering solutions to Africa), framing them as potentially colonial or paternalistic.
- **The Limits of Media:** The critique that modern struggles are being framed as entertainment ("like a movie," "incoming attraction rated pg-13").
## Methodology
- **Oratory/Rhetoric:** The speaker's primary method—using storytelling, callbacks, and philosophical deconstruction.
- **Research/Observation:** Researching patterns (the number **42**) and observing real-world events (police misconduct).
- **Cultural Comparison:** Comparing modern communication tools/finance against historical cultural norms (poetry).
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- **Immediate Action:** The speaker urges the audience to hold, tell goodbyes, and kiss their loved ones *"if you still can and don't hold back."*
- **Primary Solution:** Emphasizes that dialogue is the required "first step to solving a lot of the world's problems."
- **Duty:** It is the "duty and our duty to mankind to help the cries that are often the most silenced to be heard."
## Implications & Consequences
- The persistence of systemic injustice continues, as evidenced by the police misconduct described and the mention of **1134** deaths.
- Failing to prioritize dialogue over mere technology leads to a superficial understanding of global crises.
- The commodification of social movements turns serious issues into consumable content.
## Open Questions
- How to best balance philosophical theory (numerology) with artistic expression (poetry).
- Whether true, deep communication (dialogue) can ever outpace the speed of technology.
- How to ensure that those who possess powerful voices are heard when official channels fail.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"I'm an engineer in training and a poet on Tuesdays."*
- *"the answer to life the universe and everything 42"*
- *"the true meaning of life is eighty to eighty two point one four to be exact"*
- *"your hugs your kisses and your money all stacked"*
- *"the real privilege you have is in the place that you were born"*
- *"if you have that opportunity to kiss your loved ones hold them tell them goodbye kiss your mother if you still can and don't hold back"*
- *"our voice your speech doesn't necessarily hold more weight than mine does"*
- *"Who am I to call when the police are doing wrong"*
- *"no justice no peace and no racist police"*
- *"your speech doesn't necessarily hold more weight than mine does"*