Trump’s pardon of ex-Sheriff Arpaio, Hurricane Harvey’s wrath | The Sacramento Bee

Ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio

Re “Trump pardons Arizona ex-sheriff” (Page 1A, Aug. 26): It now appears that President Donald Trump’s personal views on race have come full circle. In his early real estate days, New York City sued his organization alleging not allowing people of color to live in his buildings. Later, he called for innocent black men, falsely accused of rape in Central Park, to be executed in a full-page newspaper ad. Now, he is pardoning a racist sheriff who broke the law by racially profiling and jailing Latinos, and continued to do so after being ordered to stop by courts. Trump supporters who approve of everything he does need to ask yourselves honestly: Would you still approve if this were President Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton’s use of the pardon power?

Justice for some

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Donald Trump’s pardon of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio shows he believes laws enacted to protect our civil rights do not apply to him or his supporters. Trump’s pardon is the worst example of a powerful executive favoring a specific individual. It supports people’s belief that justice is skewed toward the elite. Trump was never a true advocate of law and order. He uses it to shield himself and like-minded friends from justice.

Climate change

Re “Swirling storm’s deluge feeds Texas flood fears” (Page 1A, Aug. 27): Hurricanes and climate change have a complex relationship: Global warming adds water vapor to the atmosphere, intensifying rain, and causing sea level rise. Both factors worsen flooding associated with hurricanes like Harvey. The impacts of these sorts of extreme weather events will rise until we get global warming under control. Harvey is another reminder that denying a problem doesn’t make it go away.

Do we hear?

My wife keeps telling me that God is trying to get our attention. I’m not a religious person, but my concern is that He hasn’t got it yet.