Why do so many refuse to question authority?

January 17, 2026

DEAR EDITOR: Here’s what the shooting by ICE in Minnesota comes down to. There is a substantial minority of this country who blindly follow whatever an “authority” figure tells them. Millions of Americans would actually be more comfortable in North Korea, where they’d have to do no thinking at all, no matter what their eyes and ears tell them. So, if their pastor or priest is a sexual abuser of children, it doesn’t matter, they’re in charge and must be followed. Same with their corrupt president or drunken father (head of the household, don’t you know). These sheep ...

Your vote has never been more important

January 17, 2026

DEAR EDITOR: Now that we have state-sanctioned murder of citizens by the Trump administration via Homeland Security and ICE, what is next? Trump, cowgirl Noem, the murdering ICE agent and the presence of thousands of ICE agents in Minnesota, represent provocation and chaos and perhaps another more sinister plan. For some time now Trump has been threatening to cancel elections in 2026, most recently admitting if Democrats win control in Congress he would be impeached. Let us remember he loved knowing that because Ukraine is at war, elections in Ukraine have been suspended which ...

Look who’s now calling Venezuela ‘authoritarian’

January 17, 2026

DEAR EDITOR: I have noticed that news outlets have consistently referred to kidnapped Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as the head of an “authoritarian” government. AI defines “authoritarian government” as follows: An authoritarian government is a political system in which a single leader or small group holds significant power, with little or no constitutional accountability to the public. Sound familiar? It should. How ironic is it that our authoritarian government claims some sort of moral high ground in kidnapping the leader of another, weaker, authoritarian government? ...

Why is the rest of the world staying silent?

January 17, 2026

DEAR EDITOR: With all that is happening here domestically, I cannot help but ponder where the rest of the world is and why no one is saying a word. Any time we’ve invaded (read: nation built) other countries that use their own military against their neighbors or their own populace, we get help from other nations. The minute the Oompa Loompa man-child in the White House decides to open fire on our own citizens, crickets from the rest of the world. No sanctions, no statements, no threats of military action. NATO? Deadly silent. The UN? Also quiet as a tomb. The Hague (which ...

Let ICE do what it can to protect America, its people

January 17, 2026

DEAR EDITOR: Here we go again — people protesting for the wrong things. ICE was formed because of 9/11 happening. We were attacked by radical Muslims in airplanes. Has America forgotten? ICE is a group of Americans that wants to help keep our country safe. These blue cities in 2020 attacked their cops in the same city that started it all, Minneapolis. Same mayor and same governor started it all. Obama and his party love to attack good people. This party would get rid of law and order, and our country will be no more. Obama started all these groups in colleges and all ...

Dr. Louis Zona continued the fine Butler Art legacy

January 17, 2026

DEAR EDITOR: It was sad to have to say goodbye to Dr. Louis Zona, who served as director of The Butler Institute of American Art, following in the footsteps of Joseph Butler and Clyde Singer. Youngstown is very fortunate to possess such a magnificent gem of an art collection under the watchful care of such astute and creative curators. I became interested in The Butler in the 1960s. Mr. Singer usually published an art article in Sunday’s Vindicator, and on Sundays, a 16mm film on a featured artist was projected. On some Sundays at The Butler, the Polish Art Society held piano ...