For the Heralds opinion pages, these dog days of summer are also drought days for letters to the editor.
Maybe warm weather melts some of the resolve that motivates readers to press their point in a succinctly worded missive or maybe vacations take priority regardless, the volume of letters tends to drop in mid-July.
Thats bad news for fans of our letters column, since we may be filling more of the available space with other items.
Its good news for folks still writing letters, since theyll see their words in print a lot quicker than usual.
But you better hurry since itll be a short-lived drought. The down cycle for letters has never lasted more a few days.
Readership surveys have shown Tri-City Herald letters to the editor to be one of our most popular features. Were not suprised. For readers and writers alike, letters are a way to become better connected with our community.
Heres some tips for writing an award-winning (Yes, we offer awards) letter:
Make a point.
Keep it short.
Use your wit, humor and insight avoid clichés.
Dont attack other writers. If you are responding to another letter, editorial or column stick to the facts, dont make it personal.
Send letters to letters@tricity herald.com. Include your name, street address and daytime phone number for verification, please.
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An experiment that worked
An experiment that worked
On Nov. 18 of last year we started an experiment. And it worked.
Rather than politely rejecting letters to the editor that were basically thank you notes, we dedicated Thursday's letters entirely to expressions of gratitude.
Since that day, Thankful Thursday has easily become the most popular feature on this page. We have more comments of positive reaction from this feature, than anything else we have ever done.
Don't censor parade
Don't censor parade
I read a letter in the Nov. 11 Herald that in one paragraph demonstrated the lack of tolerance and hypocrisy found in many people today who still label themselves as "progressive" and "modern." This letter writer did not feel it was appropriate for the tea party folks to express themselves in a Veterans Day parade.
"Our vets fight for our freedoms to express ourselves, to have our own political and religious views, but to allow such a slanted view into a celebration of our veterans is absolutely absurd," the letter stated.
Am I the only one who thinks this statement is absurd? We have our freedom of expression but don't do it in a parade where I might see it? A parade that had schools, private focus clubs, military groups, civic groups, religious groups, commercial exhibits and many other entrants. If the West Richland Chamber of Commerce were to start censoring the entrants in their parade, do you think it would last long?
Kennewick schools: Creek, White
Kennewick schools: Creek, White
Responding to the letter from Bonnie Taylor (Letters, Oct. 25) her conclusion that Brian Brooks' qualifications earned him the temporary appointment to the Kennewick School Board is not supported by the evidence. I attended the board meeting when candidates were interviewed. Brooks did not stand out as most qualified.
As the Herald correctly noted, the majority on this board vote as a bloc. Their interest is narrowly focused on a few favored district programs. Brooks made clear he will maintain this narrow focus. While this was certain to please the board majority, it is not in the best interests of students or our community.
Kennewick citizens wanting school board members who truly will work for the interests of all students should vote for Uby Creek and Kathy White. For many good reasons, Creek has been recommended by the Kennewick Education Association (KEA) and the Herald.
Memorial heals
Memorial heals
I look forward to and appreciate your Thankful Thursdays in the Opinion pages of late. One letter I have been watching for has, to me, been conspicuously absent. I have not seen any letters in appreciation to Mr. Lampson and those who made the remarkable 9/11 memorial possible for our community.
I have been to visit the memorial many times since it was placed. It seems no matter the day or hour, I see a steady stream of men, women, couples, families, old, young, and everything in between. I find the memorial literally terribly beautiful. I also find it sacred and somehow healing.
My friend shared with me that the memorial made her proud to be a citizen of the Tri-Cities. I share her pride -- and my thanks to Mr. Lampson and others who recognized this opportunity and worked to make it a reality for our community knows no bounds.
Timing wrong for Reach
Timing wrong for Reach
Some contributors to the Herald's letters column and online forum can't understand why folks don't support the Reach Interpretive Center. Here's why I don't. Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget proposal includes the elimination of programs that provide medical services to 55,000 people, cutting subsidies for child care for 4,000 working families, shortening the school year by four days, again affecting students and staff who are already taking major hits, and more cuts to higher education. (Try cutting fat in Olympia first but that's another letter). And we need a $40 million museum? I know the arguments. These are different piles of money or the museum will be partly built by donations. What if the project is not fully self-supporting? I don't trust our government to not bail this out with tax dollars. In our current situation maybe the folks donating to the Reach should consider putting up the money to help health care, child care and our school systems instead of a museum. In prosperous times, yes, but not right
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