What makes ordinary people capable of cruelty? And how does it become not just accepted, but rewarded?
In this episode, we explore how cruelty often begins – not with hate, but with distance, disconnection, and the quiet stories we’re told about who is worthy of care and who is not. From the devastating metaphors that fueled the Rwandan genocide to the sudden unraveling of community during the Bosnian conflict, to the dark history of public lynchings in the United States, we look at how societies lose their sense of shared humanity … and how easily neighbors can become enemies. But this isn’t just about history. These patterns are alive today in our language, our policies, and our platforms.
And yet, there is another way. When we learn to notice the narratives that numb us, we also begin to reclaim the practice of seeing each other with clarity and compassion. This episode invites you to reflect, not just on the stories we inherit, but on the power we have to choose a different one.
Joni Miller, Ph.D., is a writer, researcher, spiritual coach, and speaker who uses her knowledge, education, and love of all things spiritual to help spiritual wanderers find a place they can call home, navigating by the light of Love.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994
https://www.history.com/articles/bosnian-genocide
https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/history-lynching-america
Photo by Vlad Bagacian: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-kerosene-lantern-1634845/
