Yesterday after a particularly heated exchange of correspondence over political beliefs with a close friend of mine I took a deep breath and began to mull over my strategy for rebuttal. Fortunately, I decided to sleep on it. Sometime around midnight I got up and turned on the television and watched a rerun of a popular musical. Music is one of the things that moves me and is very therapeutic.

So, upon peaceful reflection I asked myself, why in the world do I get so upset when I can’t make headway convincing someone to accept my political arguments or get them to at least acknowledge I might have a valid point?

Using factual information and logic does not help me gain traction. My growing frustration and anger accomplishes nothing and in fact, may even affect my health.

I realized that I have virtually handed over my “remote control” to others who think opposite me and just aren’t going to change their opinions, right or wrong. When I get frustrated and angry I have basically given them the ability to push the remote button labeled “Anger.”

For some misguided reason I suppose I have felt obligated to challenge statements and ideology with research and logic in an attempt to convince “those of a different tribe” to see things for what they truly are. I’m changing. As my wife jokes, I had an “apostrophe” (her word for an epiphany).

So, why should I even care? I’m over 70, a proud veteran who loves my country and I so love my life right now.

But, when only 58 percent of eligible voters voted in 2016 why should I try and fight for what’s right when a huge percentage apparently doesn’t even care?

I really have no impact on what our political leaders think, do or say and obviously they don’t care what I think. Much of the news is now “entertainment” and usually slanted by both sides to rally their loyal followers, gain viewership and push agendas.

They shove us further into our “us versus them” fortresses and isolate us from even wanting to listen to another position. Why are we like this?

There is no longer sensible debate, meaningful dialogue or true communication. Even those we should be looking up to yell and disparage the opposition and withdraw deeper into their castle walls.

I can’t make sense of it anymore and have almost given up trying.

This may seem callous, but other than cases of emergency or dire circumstances I’m really no longer responsible for the well-being or attitudes of my children or my grandchildren or today’s youth. Their parents have to take responsibility. Right or wrong I have already done what I can and have tried to point the moral compass in the right direction for them. It’s up to them now. They are creating and forming the nation and world we live in.

Presently, if I measure what has happened to our lifestyles, attitudes and the way we refuse to meaningfully communicate, deliberate and sometimes compromise I don’t have a rosy outlook for our way of life.

History seems to sort things out to reveal who was right or wrong and who left a positive or negative legacy. It’s doubtful that I can make a substantial difference in my time left here on earth. Seems dour, I know.

The upside is that my simple goal now is to try and make my community a better place, try and be a good person and make people laugh. It’s now time to enjoy what I have and that includes a wonderful wife, family, friends, hobbies, volunteering, the beauty of Central Oregon   …   and a good bottle of wine now and then.

In order to facilitate this I have reclaimed the remote from others. Programming is in your hands now! Have a beautiful day!

— Herm Meister lives in Sunriver.