Summary of Seminar: "I Can’t Breathe" with Dr. Osman Latiff

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00:00:00 - 01:00:00

This video discusses the idea of "othering" and its implications for discrimination and conflict. The speaker notes that othering is a false creation, and that it can lead to hatred, abuse, and savagery.

00:00:00 In this presentation, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the significance of "I Can't Breathe" being one of the most notable quotations in 2014. He goes on to talk about the victimization of people, and how it has led to social injustice and even worse things. He then discusses how islam addresses othering, demonization, and empathy, and how it can help us to understand and deal with these issues.
00:05:00 This video presents the idea that empathy is very powerful, but it is also limited because each person experiences empathy differently based on their own life experiences and social human life experiences. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, describes a remarkable scene in which he is in a carriage with other Auschwitz prisoners being transported to another concentration camp. He describes the moment they passed the camp and the sense of jubilation they felt knowing they were not going to that one.
00:10:00 The video discusses the poem, "The Haunted Oak," by Paul Lawrence Dunbar. The poem is about a tree that experiences the pain and anguish of a lynching. The tree is personified and is unable to withstand the memory. The poem is a powerful example of the importance of witnessing and the weight that it carries.
00:15:00 This seminar discusses the idea that the closer a perpetrator perceives of a victim, the more detached they are from the atrocities they are committing. It also discusses the book "On Killing" by Dave Grossman, which discusses the psychological effects of killing.
00:20:00 The seminar discusses social death, which is when victims are pushed to the margins of society and are no longer accepted. Social dying means generational change, and the descendants of the victims will no longer be able to live in normal, accepted society.
00:25:00 The seminar discusses the idea of social death, social dying, and othering. It explains that in order to create the other, you need an in-group and an out-group. The out-group is the other one, and in order for that to exist, you need an in-group. The self versus the other is based upon a human being's or people's perception of themselves. This can be based on many factors, one of which is disability.
00:30:00 In this video, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses how the Prophet Muhammad taught us to interact with others and to view race in a more holistic way. He also discusses the poem "Two Beautiful People in the Mercedes," which illustrates the idea. Dr. Latiff points out that even though we are together in reality, we are not together because some people have more wealth than others. He encourages us to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad and to treat everyone equally.
00:35:00 This seminar discusses the concept of "othering" and its implications for discrimination and conflict. The speaker notes that othering is a false creation, and that it can lead to hatred, abuse, and savagery.
00:40:00 In these two examples, one of which is about a white man changing his skin color to black, the author points out that often times when people with different skin colors interact, the people with darker skin colors are seen as inferior. This is especially true when it comes to areas like race and morality.
00:45:00 This video discusses how black people are seen as different, and how this difference leads to tragedy. Dr. Osman Latiff gives an example of John Howard Griffin's experiences as a black man in America. Griffin was tortured by police, and cried for his mother. He says that the stereotype view of black people creates a chasm between those who see us as different, and those who perpetrate cruelty and violence against us.
00:50:00 The video discusses the significance of a halo, or halo-like symbol, that appears around a person in a photograph of torture victims from Denmark. The guards behind the person may also be wearing animal-like costumes, which symbolize their role in the victim's captivity.
00:55:00 The video discusses the contrast between isolation and togetherness, and how this can be applied to the situation of a torture victim. It discusses how the torturer sees the victim's condition based on what he is seeing at the time, rather than extrapolating to a more inner realm. This is important because it makes it difficult for the torturer to feel empathy for the victim.

01:00:00 - 01:35:00

In this video, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the importance of empathy and its role in the dehumanization of victims. He points to the light that we need in order to see people compassionately--in Islam, specifically. Dehumanization begins with stripping away the moral code that binds us as human beings. It precedes any physical injury or death inflicted on a victim.

01:00:00 In this seminar, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the importance of empathy and its role in the dehumanization of victims. He points to the light that we need in order to see people compassionately--in Islam, specifically. Dehumanization begins with stripping away the moral code that binds us as human beings. It precedes any physical injury or death inflicted on a victim.
01:05:00 The Qur'an teaches that humans are created in the image of God, and that diversity is a sign of His greatness. This message should lead to empathy and understanding between people, rather than contempt and discrimination.
01:10:00 In this seminar, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the verse in the Quran "They are not all the same." He points out that while no two people are the same, we must not create distinctions between one another based on superficial factors like race or religion. He suggests that instead, we should focus on the closer relationships we have with Allah and be aware of our own biases. This will help us to be more just and equitable towards one another.
01:15:00 In this video, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the differences between 'othering' and 'bridging.' He says that 'othering' allows for communication to be inhibited, while 'bridging' allows for understanding and creativity to flourish. Latiff also discusses the example of the George Floyd concert, in which some bystanders attempted to shout at police officers and insult them, while others tried to rescue the officers. He says that this demonstrates the different reactions that can occur when someone is confronted with injustice.
01:20:00 The speaker discusses the importance of recognizing and responding to injustice, and warns against the consequences of doing so. The speaker also speaks about the weight that witnessing injustice can carry, and how focusing on individuals rather than groups can help to avoid these consequences.
01:25:00 In this video, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the central idea of the poem "I Can't Breathe" and how it can be applied to our daily lives. He reminds viewers that despite the challenges we face, we must remember that we are all human and have the potential to empathize with others.
01:30:00 The speaker discusses the similarities between pre-Islamic Arabs and the Nazis, as well as the reasons for those similarities. He also mentions different aspects of Arab society that can lead to similar behavior in humans. Finally, the speaker discusses the effects of dehumanization on Arab society, and ends the lecture by thanking attendees for their attendance.
01:35:00 In this seminar, Dr. Osman Latiff discusses the medical condition known as sleep apnea, which can cause individuals to experience difficulty breathing. He provides information on the symptoms and treatments available for sleep apnea, and provides tips for preventing the condition.