Editor, Times-Union: Oscar Wilde once said, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” That may seem counterintuitive, but there is a lot of merit to that statement. After all, art gives us an image of what we could be or want to be.

Editor, Times-Union: Someone asked what good has Trump done? I started a list:

Editor, Times-Union: As the time for midterm elections gets closer, there are several political terms being thrown around — for scare tactics I’m guessing. Perhaps it’s time for a refresher vocabulary lesson so voters can decide whether they really ought to be scared or merely embarrassed for candidates who often label their opponents with these terms.

Editor, Times-Union: Today, lies are considered the truth and the truth is considered a lie. COVID is an example of this. Those who said the virus was produced in a lab in China were called liars. Now that we know it is the truth, I bet the ones who said it was a lie will not be punished.

Editor, Times-Union: I once taught in a school district run by three board members who ran on the platform of the cheapest possible operation. It made it cheap for taxpayers; not so much for excellence of education.

Editor, Times-Union: I’ll preface this letter by stating that Warsaw Community Schools lives within its means when it comes to operations and the education fund. Clearly, the administration and school board care deeply about providing our kids with the best possible education. That being said, I have questions about this $143M middle school consolidation and capital improvement plan.

Editor, Times-Union: To the members of Kosciusko County Election Board: I wish to express my strong opposition to the proposed closure of crucial vote centers in our county’s smaller, rural communities.

Editor, Times-Union: The question is worth asking.

Editor, Times-Union: Dear Winona Lake and Warsaw Communities, Wow, what an incredible weekend!

Editor, Times-Union: There is much controversy surrounding AI and the data centers that train them. Such technology is already changing our economy by making certain jobs obsolete and making information searches easier. There are some firms or artists that openly brag about not using AI, but this seems like a gimmick more than anything else. After all, with most larger firms trying to use it, that means that most firms that don’t won’t be updating with the newest technology and will become increasingly outdated. In short, AI is here and it isn’t going away.

Editor, Times-Union: I hope this letter falls on soft hearts and grows roots, that good seed will grow good fruit, in my life and in yours, that we would see the good, offer grace, ask for forgiveness, be humble and gentle with all people.

Editor, Times-Union: There has been much hoopla and discerning opinions about the present political wave of Socialists running for election, but the advent of these Socialists should not be surprising ... they’ve been here all along. They moved here back in the 1920s and 1930s from Europe. They were pushed out by Fascists, the likes of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and came to settle here in America, many of which graced the halls of our finest educational institutions. For decades, they indoctrinated our children to the wonders of Socialism and how it was a far better economic system than Capitalism. Students became teachers and the indoctrination has since infected our education system all the way to grade-school level. We scratch our heads at the irrational disdain the present youth have for this country when we’ve allowed it to metastasize right in front of us for decades.

Editor, Times-Union: We hear so many people calling Trump and MAGA people fascists. We hear Platner in Maine called a fascist. A century and a half ago, a liberal was someone who gave to others from their wealth. Post FDR liberals believe you should give from your "wealth" to help others. Maybe fascism should be redefined.

Editor, Times-Union: Couldn’t have been more impressed with the amazing turnout and general presentation by Dr. Irene Miller on Tuesday evening at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center regarding her personal recollections of one of world history’s most regrettable moments – the decimation by Nazis of millions of European Jews during the 1930s and ’40s in what we in the post-World War II era have come to refer to as the Holocaust.

Editor, Times-Union: Project 2025 was uncovered before the 2024 election. Warnings about this proposed presidential transition project were issued during the election process. Several authors of the project (all members of the Heritage Foundation) became part of the Trump administration after the election: Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget; John Ratcliffe, Director of CIA; Troy Edgar, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; John Feere, Chief of Staff of ICE; Brendan Carr, leader of FCC. These men are and have been in positions necessary to carry out the diabolical blueprint for executive action across federal agencies — with the eager and enthusiastic assistance of their easily-swayed, implanted enabler, Donald J. Trump — in order to dismantle our democracy/republic and replace it with a fascist autocracy run by billionaires.

Editor, Times-Union: More and more people are getting upset that Flock Safety cameras are being installed literally everywhere without any public notice and often without the knowledge of our elected bureaucrats.

Editor, Times-Union: On behalf of the ML Community Impact Alliance Inc. and the Freedom Fest Committee, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors, donors, volunteers and community partners who helped make Freedom Fest 2026 a tremendous success and were able to overcome some weather issues.

Editor, Times-Union: We have witnessed a level of corruption that should be repulsive to decent people. I guess we have too many indecent people since so much is happening. I'm not saying only Democrats are corrupt. If a Republican is corrupt, they should be brought to justice. But Democrats have been getting away with corruption for so long that they think it's not corruption.

Editor, Times-Union: Next Sunday, Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday (and America’s Flag Day) by providing for us, We the People, a brutal, bloody display of manliness — right on the South Lawn of our house, the White House. (Couldn’t he at least have done this at his own house?) By the way, he is considering making the newly constructed NFC designed fight cage, lights, and seating a permanent fixture — just one more opportunity for photo ops when visiting our nation’s capital. Apparently, the UFC is footing the multi-million dollar bill for this event, but who will continue to pay for it should it remain a D.C. attraction?

Editor, Times-Union: It is with great pride that I give thanks to the great voters of Kosciuszko County, for getting out in the terrible weather, however disappointing in the low turnout in the poles.

Editor, Times-Union: When I heard that only 12% of eligible voters of Kosciusko County voted, that means 88% didn’t vote. Let’s think about the 88% of people.

Editor, Times-Union: Many Democrats look back at the Obama and Biden administrations and think they were so much better than the Trump administrations. Let's look at the men.

Editor, Times-Union: “The godly care about the rights of the poor. The wicked don’t care at all.” Proverbs 29:7

Editor, Times-Union: Efforts to restrict plant-based products from using the word “milk” are gaining traction again, despite little evidence that consumers are confused (Reuters, April 24, 2026). Most people know exactly what oat milk is — and choose it intentionally.

Editor, Times-Union: Ms. Shutz’s letter “Oblivious Distortion of Facts” to be honest, for me, her letters are hard to read. Sometimes I have to look up words in my “New World Dictionary of American English” - third college edition. Most of the time, I just skip the word, but then I lose the meaning of the sentence or even the whole subject.