Dear Sir (or Madam),
I’m struck by the utter lack of decorum in this forum.
Last week Mr. Smith called Mrs. Tracey a pig,
And in a letter before that, she likened him to a Whig.
Her reference was obscure, though meant to be monstrous.
Aren’t these letters supposed to be anonymous?
The printed word is sacred, or so I thought,
But like social media, your letters now have me distraught.
What ever happened to letters on the mundane,
Like thanking a newspaper deliver guy or comments on the rain?
If you’re going in this direction,
I, for one, am for insurrection.
Abolish this “Letters” section, have it be done,
Let people write their insults on social media for fun.
Or as editor, please edit, and stop this flood,
Of petty insults and dragging names through the mud.
I remember a time,
When “Letters” opened my mind.
When the letters to you responded to issues in these pages,
And the letters shared facts, whether on cicadas or wages.
I used to read these letters for wisdom and insight
Now I see too much name-calling and calls to fight.
Please editor, please, put a stop to this,
A simpler, more polite time, your readers miss.
The integrity of this paper rests of your decision.
Please end the immaturity and derision.
We look to you, fine editor and friend,
You, and only you, can bring this to an end.