by Serwan Zangana
The importance of showing respect and acting compassionately toward people can indeed impact the public and create an amiable atmosphere, and perhaps, prevent a future heated debate and vehement attack. Obviously, leaders are under observation as their words and actions can lay a smooth path between them and the public in order to peacefully engage with the public’s opposition and disagreement.
The true leaders must distinguish themselves, select their words, and analyze their actions prior to acting to become the shining examples for the entire community. Martin Luther King can definitely fit in such a category of a true leader. His voice spread peace and compassion and he saw American society as a “ beloved community”.
“The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of the violence is tragic bitterness.” King said.
During his struggle for justice, and in his most critical time, King neither undermined nor degraded a human being as in fact he believed to bring the entire community together peacefully. “I can only close the gap in broken community by meeting hate with love.” King said.
But unfortunately, the American community has been torn up by the politicians and disrespected by the leaders. It was an absurd response from President Donald Trump to the reporter who asked him about the shooting of the two National Guards in Washington, DC by the Afghani immigrant.
According to CBS NEWS, the shooter entered the U.S during former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021, and was granted an asylum during President Trump’s administration in 2025. However, President Trump is claiming that the Afghanis entered the U.S during the Biden’s administration in 2021, were not vetted.
A legitimate question from the reporter as she asked the President for the reason that he is blaming former President Biden for the mass exodus from Afghanistan to the U.S without vetting. Reversely, the U.S officials said that the shooter was vetted, and he has worked with the CIA.
The reporter continued her question respectfully to say that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Inspector General (IG) reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the (FBI) have thoroughly vetted those Afghanis brought to the U.S.
President Trump did not hesitate to degrade the reporter as he responded and said, “Because they let them in, are you stupid, are you a stupid person?”
It is a preposterous way to respond to a human being and undermine his/her intelligence as the leaders of the U.S are expected to be in the highest level of composure. Degrading the reporters and journalists in America has become a common practice by the President, and thus, resulted in distrust of the news media.
In modern society, and regardless of the nature of the question, the politicians, including the President, are obligated to accept the question, promote respect, as the American people do not deserve the agitation from the President. After all, the reporters and the journalists are not ignorant, and they should be respected.
