Sep 17, 2013 2 min read

In a long-ago “Peanuts” comic strip, Linus writes a letter to the editor where he asks “How have you been?”

His sister Lucy wonders, “What sort of a letter is that to write to an editor?”

Linus replies, “I just thought he might appreciate having someone inquire about the state of his health.”

There is no need for such inquiries at the Observer-Reporter. We’re all doing fine. But we would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the issues on which this newspaper reports, whether it’s something that’s going on locally, across the region, nationally or internationally.

We do ask that you follow some rules, though – let us know what your address and phone number are in case we need to get in touch with you. Concision is best. The chances of having your letter published increase if you get to the point quickly and in relatively few words. The best writers will tell you they always benefit from the sharp eyes of an editor, so the letters are subject to editing.

And we do ask that, if you have a letter published, you hold off for about a month or so before you send another. “Thank you” letters are, for the most part, discouraged – if you have the chance to thank someone in person, please, do so. They’ll appreciate it.

Above all, we ask for your civility. An open and vigorous debate is essential for democracy to function smoothly, but personal attacks or recklessly accusing individuals of committing criminal acts serve no function but to inflame. Unless you’re referencing Fidel Castro, throwing around terms like “communist” or “dictator” will likely lead to your letter being rejected, and the same goes for “fascist,” unless the discussion somehow has something to do with Adolf Hitler.

So uncap those pens, warm up those word processors and contribute to the dialogue.