Freedom of speech?

The Columbia Basin Herald changed the policy regarding Letters to the Editor several weeks ago. Now only one letter is allowed per month. This restricts people who want to address problems in our community, and often write second or third letters due to comments made to a prior letter. Many issues are time-sensitive. The issues cannot be addressed one letter per month.

This new policy creates a censorship because now, instead of writing a letter, there is concern that something more important may occur during the next few days, or two to three weeks. But, since a letter was submitted, the person is now blocked from writing a new letter for an entire month.

What is the reason behind this policy? Too many letters? It would appear that the number of letters being printed per week has decreased. Or is the Columbia Basin Herald attempting to restrict freedom of speech? Many people have thanked me personally, when we meet face-to-face, for writing. However, I now feel that I am being censored. I apologize to those who either like my point of view, or have chosen to debate my thinking, for not continuing to write. If you have concerns about this new one letter per month policy, please contact the paper.

Thomas Fancher

Moses Lake