Join the suburban conversation on our editorial page

The key to assuring freedom, fairness and a high quality of life in the suburbs is participation, and one important way to participate is to share your thoughts and ideas with your neighbors and the rest of the community.

Online and on its Opinion page, the Daily Herald is a great resource for that.

A letter to the editor is one of the most common formats for sharing. Studies find that the letters column is one of the most widely read features of the newspaper.

The Daily Herald considers its letters space to be a forum for unfettered community conversation. We strive to publish as many of the letters we receive as possible, with subjects ranging from a simple observation about life in a local community to a passionate discussion about controversial local, national or international issues.

We require that writers be civil and avoid personal attacks, and, if necessary, we edit for space or matters of taste. Beyond those types of considerations, we welcome letters on almost any topic from almost any point of view.

Our only requirements are that letters be limited to fewer than 300 words and that authors include their full first and last name, hometown and - not for publication - phone number where we can reach them if we have questions.

The best way to submit a letter for consideration is by email to fencepost@dailyherald.com. You can also submit a letter through a form you'll find in a link at the bottom of the Discuss portion of the dailyherald.com website titled "Send a Letter to the Editor."