Apr 28, 2014 2 min read

There’s a seemingly inevitable ebb-and-flow to the letters to the editor we receive.

In January or February, if we’re locked in a vicious deep freeze, the letters arrive at a steady clip. People warm themselves by getting fired up.

When the weather gets sunny and mild, folks might have their beefs, but they fire up their mowers.

The Internet offers a million and one ways to let your voice be heard, whether through a blog, a comments section like the one used on this newspaper’s website or social media. That goes without saying. But your letters to the editor are still important. They reach a wide audience, and we encourage you to send them.

But keep the following in mind: Concision is best. And our opinion page is not a place for mud-slinging, resolving personal disputes or settling scores with individuals, businesses or elected officials. Nor is it a place to offers thanks to individuals who have done you favors or businesses that provided exemplary service. By all means you should thank them, but thank them in person or send them a note. They will surely appreciate it.

We ask you provide your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

Also, we ask for civility. The page is not a forum for bigotry and hate-mongering, so letters that spit venom about people of other ethnic groups or religious faiths, or make broad generalizations about them, will not be accepted.

And since even the best writers benefit from editing, the letters we receive are subject to editing for length, grammar, spelling, style and clarity.

Margaret Thatcher once said, “I love argument, I love debate.” This is your chance to be a part of it.