Several years ago “60 Minutes” aired a segment which involved Joe Arpaio. Arpaio was the Sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona. The story revealed a man who was obviously racist, and considered those who are incarcerated to be less than human. As years passed, we learned that he ordered his officers to harass Hispanics repeatedly. Right wing extremists claimed that he was a ‘champion in the fight against illegal immigration.’ The truth was that he is a man who believes that whites are superior to all other races.

Arpaio was recently convicted of contempt for his failure to comply with a court order to instruct his officers to halt their practice of racial profiling. Thanks to an admirer, he may not face time in jail.

“I am seriously considering a pardon for Sheriff Arpaio,” Trump told Fox News, which said the interview occurred Sunday at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. “He has done a lot in the fight against illegal immigration. He’s a great American patriot and I hate to see what has happened to him.”

Trump has a far different definition of the word ‘patriot than most Americans.’ According to the dictionary, ‘patriot’ is defined as “a person who loves his or her country and defends it when necessary.” For me this means protecting the rights and freedom of all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or the color of their skin; people compose a nation, not real estate. Trump does not represent the majority of the American people, and Arpaio displayed disdain and hatred for all non-whites.

The most important question involves Trump’s plan to pardon Arpaio. If he does, will all Americans finally admit that our nation has a white supremacist defiling the White House? Long before the tragedy in Charlottesville, Trump displayed his approval of those who believe in white nationalism. His first two selections as his top advisers were alt-right member, Steve Bannon, and long-time racist and KKK supporter, Jeff Sessions. Trump’s “money man,” Robert Mercer, is Breitbart’s chief financial supporter. When Trump hesitated to denounce the incident in Charlottesville as an event which protected white supremacy, or label it as ‘domestic terrorism,’ it was sadly evident that he was reluctant to criticize his supporters.

Fortunately both Trump and Arpaio are men in their 70’s and will not be violating our Constitution for much longer. When evil leaves our nation, we become stronger and better.

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

SOURCE

Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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