To Rich Mayfield: Thank you so much for all the thoughtful, stimulating, and compassionate columns you have authored. We always looked forward to reading them every week. Agree or not, your views always encouraged us to examine our own opinions and resulted in many valuable discussions. We earnestly hope you will someday write again.

To those of you whose weakness of argument resulted in your stooping to personal attacks on Mr. Mayfield: Shame on you.

To the Summit Daily News: We urge you to finally adopt the editorial policy for letters to the editor followed by other newspapers: “We will not publish letters containing ad hominem attacks.” We are certain that the lack of this policy deters letter writers from communicating their opinions in your pages.