“You are not hearing me,” is another way of saying, you are not listening in a manner that will lead to understanding.

How does rhetorical listening play into our electoral politics and public policy debates today? How do listening and speaking styles help exacerbate or lessen polarization? And, how can we relate this to the concept of “othering”- the dynamic used to make those with whom we disagree our enemy, who should be treated in less than humane ways?