Thanks, but no
I think one of the hardest ediitorial policies to enforce, or explain, because people are usually only asking to publicly thank someone or a group that may well deserve it, is the Banner's ban on "thank you" letters on the editorial pages.
And even though the policy is stated in the Letters to the Editor box we often run on those pages, people either miss it or they somehow think that their cause is a good one and it really won't apply to them.
Agree or not, and we know there are some people who don't, "thank you" letters present several problems and that is why the newspaper decided some time ago not to run them anymore. I completely agree that this is the best course. One reason is that there is only so much space for other letters, columns and editorials and we don't want to devote any to something that is not related to an issue before the community or the nation, the airing of which is the primary function of the edit pages.
Secondly, in the past, too many people abused the thank you letter by tossing in plugs for all their friends in business in the area, or just mentioned all their friends to get their names in the paper. These really are the main reasons we now ask people to take out a classified ad if they want to thank someone, especially a local business.
On another level, if someone volunteers for something or donates to a cause, they really should be doing it because they want to, not because they know they will get a plug in the newspaper.
And finally, thank you letters just aren't that interesting, except to those few people who are being thanked.
On the other hand, we do allow letters of praise for an event or for someone or some group that deserves it. Please, just don't start tossing in the thanks yous. We might have to hit the delete button.
Jim Therrien
Editor