Press "Enter" to skip to content

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: Now is not the time for division (1/28/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I write not as a representative of any political party, but as a concerned citizen who believes in the foundational principles of our nation. Recent policies in the…
Letter: Profound sorrow (1/28/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: This is not an editorial about politics. I could certainly argue politics with the best of them—I have a PhD in public policy; professional advocacy experience on Capitol…
Letter: Vote for decency (1/28/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Unarmed protesters murdered by masked thugs in nonviolent protests. Unarmed protesters pepper sprayed in the face by masked thugs from inches away. Unarmed protesters thrown to the ground…
Letter: We need immigrants (1/28/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Trump has just issued a pause on immigrant visas from 75 countries. He’s deployed 1000s of masked ICE agents to abduct anyone who looks like they might be…
Letter: May we unite in truth (1/28/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Mathews County is a small, wonderful place to live. We are a community of caring people. If someone is sick, neighbors arrive with food and offers to help.…
Letter: More expensive, less safe (1/28/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal:Democrats now control the legislature and Governor’s office in Virginia. Here are just a few of the proposals they’ve introduced. The bill is called Virginia House Bill No. 863…
Editorial: Old Man Winter (1/28/2026) - Old Man Winter has settled in for at least a week with plenty of frigid air, some ice, and some snow. The frozen landscape will thaw slowly: going into next…
Letter: Thank you from Concerts By The Bay (1/21/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: We are so thankful for our subscribers, advertisers, and contributors, helping us to bring quality music to our beloved Gloucester, Mathews and surrounding counties. We are very grateful…
Letter: How do we sleep? (1/21/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The cancellation of USAID has led to over 330,000 deaths as of July 2025 (with predictions exceeding 700,000). Of this death count, 224,000 were children. According to data…
Editorial: Know your Mathews supervisors (1/21/2026) - The Mathews County Board of Supervisors begins 2026 with chairman Tom Bowen and vice chair Pat Beattie at the helm. Stepping down from the role of chairman is Tim Doss,…
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…
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: 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…
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: 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: 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: 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…
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: 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: 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…
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: 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…
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…

Subscribe to Receive Weekly Updates and Announcements