Stop mocking Trump: Respect the office you elected

 

Donald Trump, the US president. 

In every democracy, citizens reserve the right to criticize their leaders, challenge their decisions, and debate the direction of their country. However, what has unfolded around Donald Trump goes far beyond ordinary political disagreement.

 

The level of mockery, ridicule, and personal attacks directed at him, often from his own citizens, has reached a point rarely seen in modern American politics. Whether one agrees with his policies or not, the relentless culture of making fun of a sitting president raises deeper questions about respect, national unity, and historical awareness.

 

Many Americans argue that they oppose Trump because they dislike his policies. Yet disagreement with a leader’s agenda has never justified the kind of public humiliation that has become normalized. Critique is healthy; ridicule is corrosive.

 

A nation that claims to value democracy should also value the office of the presidency, even when the occupant is controversial. When mockery becomes the default response, it weakens the very institutions people claim to defend.

 

What makes this situation even more striking is the selective outrage. Some of the same Americans who loudly condemn Trump’s policies today remained silent when previous U.S. administrations imposed harmful policies on Africa, policies that destabilized economies, supported dictatorships, fueled conflicts, and contributed to the long-term suffering of millions.

 

For decades, the African continent has borne the consequences of decisions made in Washington, often without the American public showing the same passion or moral indignation they now display toward Trump.

 

This contrast exposes a troubling double standard. If Americans believe certain policies are harmful, then consistency demands that they also acknowledge the damage caused by earlier administrations, Republican and Democrat alike, whose actions abroad had far more devastating consequences than anything they accuse Trump of domestically.

 

The silence during those years suggests that outrage is often selective, shaped more by internal political divisions than by genuine concern for justice or human rights.

 

It is therefore difficult to accept the argument that Trump deserves ridicule because of his policies. If harmful policies are the measure, then past leaders should have faced far greater scrutiny for the suffering their decisions inflicted on Africa. Instead, many Americans ignored or minimized those impacts, while today they feel justified in mocking their own president over disagreements that pale in comparison.

 

Respecting the presidency does not mean agreeing with everything a leader does. It means recognizing that democracy requires a baseline of civility and consistency. If Americans want to hold their leaders accountable, they should do so with fairness, historical awareness, and an understanding of how U.S. policies, past and present, affect not only their own nation but the wider world.

 

Mockery may feel satisfying in the moment, but it does nothing to strengthen democracy or promote meaningful change. A more honest conversation would acknowledge that Trump is not the first U.S. president whose policies sparked controversy, and he will not be the last. What matters is whether citizens can rise above personal attacks and engage with political issues in a way that reflects maturity, integrity, and global awareness.

 

In the end, Donald Trump is the elected president of the United States. Disagree with him if you must, challenge his decisions if you choose, but the culture of making fun of him says more about the nation than it does about the man.

 

A country that demands respect from the world should begin by respecting its own institutions, and by confronting the uncomfortable truth that its past actions abroad deserve just as much scrutiny as its present debates at home.

Muhammad Ali’s visit to Ghana: An echo that still resonates

 

Muhammad Ali's 1964 visit to Ghana was a landmark moment in both his personal journey and Pan-African history.

When Muhammad Ali, then newly crowned heavyweight champion of the world, arrived in Ghana in 1964, the moment was far more than a celebrity visit. It was a symbolic homecoming, a meeting between two of the most influential Black figures of the 20th century.

 

Ali, the brash, brilliant boxer who had just stunned the world by defeating Sonny Liston, stepped onto African soil as a global icon in the making. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and the leading voice of Pan‑Africanism, welcomed him not merely as a sportsman but as a son returning to the continent.

 

Their encounter captured the spirit of an era defined by liberation, pride, and the reawakening of African identity. Ali’s arrival in Accra was electric, as thousands lined the streets, cheering as his motorcade passed, waving flags and chanting his name.

 

Newspapers described the scene as one of the most enthusiastic public receptions since Ghana’s independence celebrations. In the VIP lounge of the airport, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Kojo Botsio greeted him on behalf of Nkrumah and bestowed upon him a new name: Kwame Muhammad Ali, marking him as a Sunday-born son of the Ashanti tradition.

 

Ali embraced the gesture with pride, calling his trip “a return to the fatherland,” a phrase that resonated deeply with Ghanaians and African Americans alike. When Ali finally met Nkrumah, the encounter was warm, symbolic, and politically charged. Nkrumah saw in Ali a powerful cultural ambassador, young, confident, unapologetically Black, and admired across the world.

 

Ali, in turn, admired Nkrumah as the embodiment of African independence and dignity. Their meeting represented a bridge between the struggles of African Americans and the aspirations of newly independent African nations. It was a moment when the global Black freedom movement felt united, hopeful, and unstoppable.

The visit also carried political undertones. Ghana in the early 1960s was a beacon of Pan‑Africanism, attracting intellectuals, activists, and revolutionaries from across the diaspora. Figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Malcolm X had already found inspiration in Nkrumah’s Ghana.

 

Ali’s presence added a new dimension: the world’s most famous athlete standing shoulder to shoulder with Africa’s most outspoken anti‑colonial leader. For many Ghanaians, it was a validation of their country’s growing influence on the world stage. Ali’s days in Ghana were filled with public appearances, cultural ceremonies, and interactions with ordinary people.

 

He wore kente cloth, danced with crowds, and visited schools and training centers. His charisma transcended language and borders. Even decades later, older Ghanaians recall the joy and pride of seeing him walk through their streets, an African American who carried himself with the confidence of a king yet moved among them with humility and warmth.

 

The echoes of that visit have not faded. It remains a defining moment in the shared history of Africa and its diaspora. Ali’s embrace of Ghana strengthened the emotional and political ties between African Americans and the continent. For Ghana, the visit reinforced its identity as a home for the global Black family and a center of Pan‑African thought.

 

For Ali, it marked the beginning of his transformation from athlete to global moral figure, a journey that would later see him stand against the Vietnam War and become a symbol of resistance and dignity. Today, the images and stories of Ali with Nkrumah continue to circulate, reminding new generations of a time when Black unity felt tangible and powerful.

 

Their meeting stands as a testament to the enduring connection between sport, politics, and identity, and to the profound impact that two extraordinary men had on the world.

The behavioral shift: What social media is doing to our minds

 

Social media's psychological impact is complex, offering both significant benefits and notable risks, particularly for young people.

Social media has become one of the most influential forces shaping human behavior in the 21st century. Its platforms encourage constant interaction, instant feedback, and continuous exposure to curated content.

 

As a result, people often adjust their behaviors, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously, to align with the norms and expectations they see online. This can include adopting new trends, modifying communication styles, or even altering personal values to fit into digital communities.

 

One of the most visible effects is the shift in how individuals seek validation. Likes, comments, and shares function as social rewards, reinforcing certain behaviors and discouraging others.

 

Over time, this can create a cycle where people post content not because it reflects their true selves, but because it is likely to generate engagement. This dynamic can significantly impact self-esteem, decision-making, and emotional well-being, particularly among younger users who are still developing their identities.

 

Social media also influences behavior through exposure to information, including both accurate and misleading content. The speed at which content spreads can amplify emotions, shape public opinion, and influence real-world actions.

 

Whether it’s participating in social movements, adopting new habits, or reacting to viral misinformation, people often respond to what they encounter online without fully evaluating its credibility. This can lead to positive outcomes, such as increased awareness and activism, but also negative ones, such as polarization or impulsive behavior.

 

The effects of social media on behavior can be explored from multiple angles, each revealing how deeply digital platforms shape modern life. Psychologically, social media influences how people think, feel, and evaluate themselves.

 

Features such as likes, comments, and notifications create reward loops that encourage repeated engagement, while constant exposure to curated images and lifestyles fuels comparison and self‑doubt.

 

Many users, especially adolescents, begin to shape their identities around what receives approval online, blurring the line between authentic self‑expression and performance for an audience.

 

Social behavior has also transformed significantly, shifting communication norms toward shorter, faster, and more public interactions, and online communities now play a major role in shaping beliefs and social belonging. Trends spread rapidly, influencing fashion, language, humor, and even political attitudes.

 

At the same time, social media can create echo chambers where people primarily interact with those who share similar views, reinforcing group identities and sometimes deepening divisions. Another major factor is the role of algorithms, which determine what users see and how often they see it.

 

These systems subtly guide behavior by prioritizing content that triggers strong reactions, whether positive or negative. As a result, users may find themselves nudged toward certain opinions, habits, or purchases without realizing the influence behind their choices.

 

This raises important questions about digital ethics, manipulation, and the power of technology companies in shaping public behavior. Social media also affects decision-making in everyday life.

 

People increasingly rely on online content when choosing what to buy, how to vote, or how to interpret current events. Influencers, viral posts, and misinformation can all play a role in shaping these decisions, sometimes leading to positive outcomes such as increased awareness, but also to harmful consequences when false information spreads unchecked.

 

Despite these challenges, social media can have beneficial effects, offering emotional support, strengthening long‑distance relationships, and giving marginalized groups a platform to be heard. Taken together, these influences show that social media is not just a tool but a powerful environment that shapes behavior on both individual and societal levels.

 

It affects how people communicate, how they see themselves, how they make decisions, and how communities form and evolve. Understanding these effects is essential for navigating the digital world with awareness and balance.