The pardoning of Joe Arpaio sends a resounding message to the nation regarding the current administration’s disregard for legality as well as equality.

In the midst of the nation's fixation with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the pardoning of Sheriff Joe Arpaio seemingly pales in comparison. However, disregarding this presidential pardon may be extremely dangerous, as presidential pardons have not only held historical significance, but this particular pardon may be something to keep an eye on. Reading between the lines for this pardon is rather important, as it reveals a rather dark dynamic between the courts and Donald Trump.

The skit from the popular show "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" on Joe Arpaio was trending #1 on YouTube very recently and for good reason. This small piece of crucial information slipped from our notice as the nation collectively held their breaths hoping that the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma would not be devastating. This brings to light problem #1.

The announcement of something so notable almost gives off the impression that this act was meant to be done behind closed doors; the fewer people were aware of it, the better. This type of suspicious and eyebrow-raising behavior further reinforces the lack of transparency that we have come to except for a governmental structure that preaches the ideals of democracy. But then again, this type of behavior to antagonize the general American population is typically associated with the current presidency.

However, the specific person being pardoned is a serious issue as well. Joe Arpaio’s track record is extremely troubling for anyone to even consider pardoning. With his history of racial profiling, the very thing he was imprisoned for, his potential return as a law enforcement official truly delivers a message to the rest of the nation regarding how little regard the country has towards racial profiling and the harms associated with it.

Arpaio’s track record further includes sexual harassment and contempt for the well-being of prisoners, as well as employing inhumane tactics to deal with prisoners. Alongside this, the main reason why he was imprisoned was due to his contempt for the court’s decision to stop racially profiling specific people who he would incarcerate and subsequently send to U.S. immigration services. A law enforcement officer with contempt for the law is quite a spectacle of irony manifesting itself in reality.

Deeming racism as something that can be so easily disregarded proves the existence of structural racism that continues to pervade the status quo and proliferate itself; the effects of which are further exacerbated by people of significance turning a blind eye. Such perspectives and stances can only allow for hateful ideologies to proliferate and thrive without any sort of inhibition. This behavior also greatly displays simply how little regard the current president has for legality or the law, and how far above he sees himself. Such condescendence can, and already has, permeate into other sectors of politics, in which case we may certainly see such behavior continue.

Contempt for racism only allows it to proliferate. Just look at America as a whole for more examples.