POLITICAL VIOLENCE: How Hate Speech and Divisive Rhetoric Poison the Body Politic

PLEASE Help FUND Season 3—Time is of the essence and no amount is too small! Contribute HERE: https://throne.com/language_of_the_soulWhat happens when we disguise bigotry as opinion? In this watershed moment for American discourse, I felt compelled to address how dangerous rhetoric spreads through our society like a poison.Recording without my usual co-host, I reflect on the eerie timing of our recent episode about empathic reasoning—a conversation that became painfully relevant in light of political violence. This isn't about partisan politics but about recognizing the mechanics of how harmful narratives propagate and create climates that permit violence against marginalized communities.Speaking from my experience as a member of the LGBTQ community, I share two contrasting social media responses to recent events—one calling for civility across differences, another calling out religious hypocrisy. These divergent viewpoints frame my reading of excerpts from my book "Language of the Soul," where I detail how beliefs spread like contagion through casual conversations, media, education, and political propaganda.The historical thread is clear: from Matthew Shepard to the Pulse and Club Q shootings, divisive rhetoric has real-world consequences. When public figures reject empathy itself as "a made-up new age term," they deny something fundamental to our humanity—something anthropologists confirm is an instinct that serves our collective survival.This deeper conversation requires us to move beyond false equivalencies that normalize hate speech. Civil discourse with ideological opponents demands genuine understanding and empathic reasoning while still holding firm to core values of human dignity. Only by becoming conscious participants in our collective narrative can we write a new story that honors our shared humanity.Join me in this deeply personal exploration of how stories shape our reality and how we might find our way back to meaningful dialogue in a fractured world. We can get our hands in the clay—individually and collectively—to craft a more compassionate future.We would love to hear from you! Send US a text message. Support the showTo learn more and order Dominick's book Language of the Soul visit www.dominickdomingo.com/theseekerNow more than ever, it’s tempting to throw our hands in the air and surrender to futility in the face of global strife. Storytellers know we must renew hope daily. We are being called upon to embrace our interconnectivity, transform paradigms, and trust the ripple effect will play its part. In the words of Lion King producer Don Hahn (Episode 8), “Telling stories is one of the most important professions out there right now.” We here at Language of the Soul Podcast could not agree more.This podcast is a labor of love. You can help us spread the word about the power of story to transform. Your donation, however big or small, will help us build our platform and thereby get the word out. Together, we can change the world…one heart at a time!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not reflect the official policy or position of any counseling practice, employer, educational institution, or professional affiliation. The podcast is intended for discussion and general educational purposes only.