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Opinion

Letters to the Gazette-Journal on any subject of public interest are always welcome. Letters should be 300 words or shorter, and all submissions must include the writer’s complete home mailing address, email and phone number should we need to reach you (this information is not published).

We favor letters that thoughtfully respond to or offer perspective or content published in the Gazette-Journal, and on local or state issues. The Gazette-Journal will not accept letters which comment on articles published in other periodicals; and we may not use letters which have appeared in other publications. We do not accept letters that are primarily broad endorsements or attacks on political candidates or parties. Also, space limitations often prevent publication of thank-you letters.

The right is reserved to refuse letters and to limit letters from individual contributors to one per month, to limit to one the number of candidate endorsements an individual can make, and to edit letters for length, accuracy, clarity, tone, style and other considerations. The newspaper requires a physically signed copy for our records. That can be accomplished by sending a digital image, such as a JPEG, to the editor.

Letter: Human decency has been turned upside down (1/14/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I grew up in the greatest country in the world. A country that was kind, chose freedom and liberty as the basic foundation of a democracy. Our country…
Editorial: Know your county board: Gloucester (1/14/2026) - The board’s leadership is set and the county’s annual budget process will soon be underway. Gloucester County Board of Supervisors approved its chairman and vice chairman at its Jan. 6…
Letter: Erosion of private property rights (1/14/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: In 1938, prior to World War II, Virginia enacted a law permitting hunters to enter private property to retrieve hunting hounds. Known as the “right to retrieve,” this…
Letter: ‘The Ugly American’ (1/14/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: “The Ugly American,” a novel first published in 1958, supposedly served as a “wakeup call” for our government. At the time, it so impressed J.F.K. that he sent…
Letter: Courting a crisis (1/14/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: It has become a truism that once a government spending program is established, it becomes permanent. Taxes are never revised downward. As was demonstrated with the recent government…
War powers (1/14/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Using U.S. military forces to (1) bomb small boats in international waters, (2) kidnap a head of state in his own country, and (3) to steal oil tankers…
Letter: I must be missing something (1/14/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: As of November, 2025, Israeli forces have killed over 61,000 Palestinians, including over 20,000 children! Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the murder of innocent civilians, bombed hospitals and refugee…
Letter: HITW situation should never have occurred (1/7/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Personal vendetta political decision-making has interfered with sound fiscal management in Mathews County, and taxpayers are paying the price. The “Hole in the Wall Situation” should never have…
Editorial: Know your legislators (1/7/2026) - The 164th Virginia General Assembly will convene next Wednesday, and lawmakers from across the state, including our local representatives, will roll up their sleeves and get to the task of…
Letter: Gratitude for Christmas Store (1/7/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Heartfelt gratitude just doesn’t seem enough for the multitudes that year after year come together to make the Mathews County Christmas Store a reality. For over 45 years,…
Letter: The president’s conundrum (1/7/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Winston Churchill said, “The best defense is a good offense.” Why then are we hearing so little from prominent men named in Jeffrey Epstein’s pedophilia ring? We get…
Editorial: Hello 2026 (12/30/2025) - The new year opens with this issue of the Gazette-Journal, and we embark upon the Good Ship News for another voyage across the calendar. We are not sorry, as a…
Editorial: Save the penny (12/30/2025) - It is ridiculous to stop minting the penny. The insignificant, basic, tiny penny: not so insignificant. It is the first building block of our monetary system, and has inspired multiple…
Letter: Dredge Davis Creek (12/30/2025) - Editor, Gazette Journal: We own a small marina on Davis Creek and have for the last 19 years. Ten years ago we bought out our partner. Our mission was to…
Letter: A fine legacy (12/30/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The Mathews Memorial Library is indeed a source of pride for our county, thanks to Bette Dillehay, the library’s director for nearly 24 years. Bette will retire on…
Letter: Wonderful traditions of giving back (12/30/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I write this letter to thank Gwynn’s Island Civic League Foundation Members very much for generous contributions to benefit our Gwynn’s Island Museum. The work you do to…
Editorial: Be the light (12/17/2025) - Charitable outreach reflecting the beautiful giving spirit of Christmas shines especially strong this month. Perhaps because we are in our darkest days of the year, the efforts seem to shine…
Editorial: Voters as pawns (12/17/2025) - CNN quotes Steve Burke, a former economic advisor to President Trump, as calling nationwide redistricting efforts “atrocious” and as saying, “Politicians shouldn’t choose voters, voters should choose politicians.” Amen. Virginia…
Letter: What a surprise! (12/17/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: What a surprise! I went to see, “Shrek Jr. the Musical” brought to us by our good friends at the Moose Lodge. My granddaughter was in the cast,…
Letter: Thank you! (12/17/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The Central Village Homemakers would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all those that participated and made its Community Concert and Singalong such a success.…
Letter: War crimes? (12/17/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Democrats, the ever-loyal media, and now local activists continue to whip up a story about “war crimes” committed by the Trump administration in destroying the drug boats. They…
Editorial: Victory, fire, resolution, revolution (12/10/2025) - At a river crossing near Norfolk called Great Bridge, American patriot forces repulsed a British attack on Dec. 9, 1775 … 250 years and two days ago. The patriots suffered…
Letter: A remembrance (12/10/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The first weekend in December has long marked the start of the holiday season in Gloucester. Our community Christmas tree and lighting ceremony once stood as a true…
Letter: Heartwarming (12/10/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Each day I check for incoming letters to Santa in his special mailbox in front of the Mathews Museum. We forward all of them to Santa so that…
Letter: Saving We the People (12/10/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The Democratic and Republican parties have left We the People. Democrats, once beholden to the working class to “protect” jobs, families and freedoms, are now igniting our cities,…

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