Posted 9 months, 14 days ago in 
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While passing though Grand Junction, I had the opportunity to pick up a copy of The Daily Sentinel and read Gary Harmon’s March 27 column “Protests embolden terrorists in Iraq,” March 27 with interest.
However, my interest turned to shock when I read Mr. Harmon’s depiction of local peace advocates as “ghouls” and “backwater beatniks.” That citizens who are exercising their constitutionally granted rights to free speech and dissent would be publicly attacked by a member of the Grand Junction press only reinforces perceptions of intolerance that are widely associated with your city.
Mr. Harmon then continues his sophomoric invective with a breathless — nearly homoerotic — paean to this country’s military actions in Iraq. If Gary Harmon is looking to paint himself in the image of conservative commentators like Michael Savage or Rush Limbaugh, well then, give the man a cigar! However, I won’t be spending another fifty cents to see what issues forth from Mr. Harmon’s soft, pink fingers the next time I come though town.
That this writer is actually employable speaks more to underlying policies of his editors than of his having any value to the community.
JONATHAN WRIGHT
Estes Park
14 Responses to “Harmon’s column was sophomoric”
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 11:39 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I thought it was the funnier than anything in “the Onion” by far!
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Does this mean I don’t have to go to estes park and waste 50cents?
Darn!!!
I wuz planning the trip….
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
As a beatnik, I just want to put down that Gary Harmon is totally squaresville, daddy-o.
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
RETRACTION RE: Harmon’s column was sophomoric.
I would like to extend a retraction of a statement I made in a letter to the editor (titled: “Harmon’s column was sophomoric”) in this morning’s online version of the Sentinel. In my letter, I had referenced Gary Harmon’s commentary on this weekends upcoming Peace Rally as being “nearly homoerotic”. I would like to clarify that in no way did I mean to imply intolerance towards any minority here.
Indeed, making comparisons between what a group of committed and socially enlightened advocates choose to do in public, and what Mr. Harmon may do in the privacy of his own home is not responsible participation in a community discourse.
Once again, I would like to extend my sincere apologies to Gary Harmon and the rest of the Gay Community in the Grand Valley.
Jonathan Wright
Estes Park
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
It doesn’t get much more entertaining that this. People love to fight and quite frankly it’s very entertaining watching them. Unless of course it’s me doing the fighting; then I feel like a jackass..
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
but seriously, harmon is way out of line attacking anyone, I thought journalism was all about impersonal objectivity and fairness? Calling people names definitely doesn’t fall into this category.
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 9:30 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I know other people visiting our community who have commented on what a lousy newspaper the Daily Sentinel is. It was not always like that. There used to be balance and little bias in the publication. No longer. Since the paper was sold to out of state interests it has gone down in quality almost yearly.
Gary Harmon is known as our village fool. (every village has one, I think it might be required by law) He has a reputation for his yellow journalism. Harmon saw the success Rosie O’Donnell had with her juvenile tantrums and now patterns himself after her. IMHO
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Well, you can’t blame the paper.
It really hasn’t changed much in the last 40 years or so.
Just the readership.
The editors and reporters do the same jobs they have been doing.
Printing stories that liberals don’t like, then printing stories that conservatives don’t care to much for either.
If you prefer a paper that only prints the stories you want to read, I could suggest a few.
The “other” paper should do nicely…
No…, wait….,
They fired a columnist for plagiary .
Interesting, it must be a virus that only affects liberal “journalists”.
And interesting aside about “journalists”.
I ifnd it curious how many “journalists” state quite plainly that the reason they got into journalism was to “make a difference”.
It’s just not possible to “make a difference” by reporting what actually happened.
What actually happened is what should be “reported”.
The only way to “make a difference” is to “mis-report the news”.
But, I guess that’s just new journalism at its best.
Lying to the audience…
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 11:04 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I’m sure Gary Harmon prides himself on writing the absurd. I’d also bet that he giggles himself to sleep every night.
Posted March 28th, 2008 at 11:27 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I would like to challenge Gary Harmon to come talk to two local Iraq War Vets that will be speaking out at Sunday’s event at 2pm in Lincoln Park, maybe that would bring him back to reality.
Posted March 30th, 2008 at 10:54 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Wow! Gary got everyone excited. I guess I’ll read his work more now.
I never cared before.
Posted March 31st, 2008 at 6:17 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I guess Gary’s mom figured out how to post.
Posted March 31st, 2008 at 7:40 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
R-N-Co-West;
So, you’re going to start reading Gary Harmon’s column because a lot of people say bad things about him? If a bunch of people say a pile of dog doo smells bad, will you be intrigued by that, as well? Happy sniffing!
Posted July 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
The gentleman from Estes Park was kind to elevate the Harmon column(s) to sophomoric. Perhaps juvenile would have been much more accurate, and much more reflective of their quality.
Until such time as he “leaves” we may perhaps use his columns as either “notes of comedy” or, maybe use them as examples in writing class, of what can happen when someone is ’schooled’, without being educated.
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