Divisiveness
‘causing disagreement or hostility within a group so that it is likely to split’
Discordant
‘in disagreement, or incompatible’
Troublesome
‘producing annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety, especially in a recurrent way’
Disruptive
‘interrupting usual order or progress’
Conflict-ridden
‘a disagreement or clash between ideas, principles, or people’
Dissonant
‘incompatible or inconsistent’
Jarring
‘to have an irritating, unsettling, or unpleasantly disturbing effect on somebody or something’
Harsh
‘severely scrutinizing, critical, and rigid in manner’
Inharmonious
‘characterized by disagreement and conflict’
Cacophonous
‘a disagreement or clash between ideas, principles, or people’

More synonyms are
‘cruel, unkind, unsympathetic, callous, ruthless, unforgiving, inconsiderate, troublemaking, unruly, disorderly, unsettling, upsetting, and disturbing’

Arnie Sherr writes of his interpretation of

“Divisiveness”

Above are listed twenty two synonyms of the word “Divisiveness.” All American’s who are even lightly exposed to what is turning out to be America’s longest Presidential primary, without exemption have heard the word “Divisive” used over and over to describe what is in-part portrayed as a cause of our broken government. Our primarily two-party political system (the Independent party slowly growing) is so far apart on the basic but most important issues facing America’s immediate and long term futures, it seems that what used to be a middle-ground for achieving compromise has become a mega-crevice too wide for either side to navigate for acceptable positive solutions. It is said by some in both Houses, what used to be opposite-sides-of-the-isle friendships are no more; that much of the fun of being senators and representatives has deteriorated significantly. Many are retiring back into civilian life, as a result.

But, let us leave the political scene for a moment and travel, if you will and if the following scenario is applicable, to a prior but failed marriage. Whatever the grounds portrayed by the respective lawyers and officiating courts, the route-cause of all that fails between human beings is “divisiveness;” whether of marriage, business partnerships, singing groups, friendships, neighbors, sports teams, and others similar, it is the unwillingness to meet in the middle with open minds and an earnest desire to negotiate without ‘discordance’, ‘trouble’, ‘disruption’, ‘conflict’, ‘jarring attitudes’, ‘harshness’, and so on that blocks progress, reconciliation, harmony, and unity.

What I envision after having defined the above list is a stubbornness and narrowness of minds. When one takes a position and is unwilling to listen to opposing positions, the latitude for reconciliation, solutions, and unity are indeed sabotaged. When the state of “divisiveness” evolves into “stubbornness” then reason is sacrificed and positive results are generally at risk, especially when power is striven intrusively.

Politically, at least in relation to election campaigns “divisiveness” is practiced tactically and is prevalent for this purpose. But in this context it is important to realize than campaigns are not negotiations, they are sales presentations. Therefore, “divisiveness” is appropriate and justified as each attempt selling their plights for the benefit of attracting the greater numbers of buyers, or voters as in the case of political campaigns. And, just as in sales the caution “buyers beware” applies, so it does in political campaigns. It is the voter’s obligation to gather, verify, challenge, debate, inquire, and whatever else is necessary to decide for whom of the candidates he or she feels is worthy of their respective support.

Irrespective of campaigning it is apparent that our government is every of the twenty two synonyms above of the word “divisive.” Whether in the House of Representatives or in the United States Senate, the 4.5’ center-isle that divides the right from the left may as well be as expansive as the mega-crevice of which I have previous referred. There are no campaigns to be won, only challenges to be solved, needs to be filled, and America’s prosperity for which to be planned. Until those of our “government” unite then how in “God’s” reverent name will the American people come together as one?

Many street corners throughout this great land host anti-war/anti-troop demonstrators and in close opposing proximities are pro-war/pro-troop demonstrators. Most times these groups are so divided that animosities display back and forth; minimally, violence has been reported to have broken out.

If you’ve ever been part of a divorce, partnership dissolution, team break-up, or other I’m sure you’ve looked back after a time and reflected, if only I had…

“To communicate with others or another in manners that best achieve a mutually desired result ensuing the best proven, taught, or otherwise learned methods as proficiently as known or able, is infallible.”
- Arnold Sherr