Tribune readers react to SLO County official’s inflammatory Facebook posts
Editor’s note: The following letters to the editor were in response to this editorial and story. Read an update on this by clicking here.
Why the silence from other supervisors?
So only Bruce Gibson and Adam Hill have the integrity to comment on Jim Harrison’s twisted, despicable social media posts. The others too chicken shtuff. Who do they think they are? United States senators afraid to upset their base? We private citizens post offensive memes pretty regularly and it’s no less despicable, but public officials like Lynn Compton, Debbie Arnold, and John Peschong need to get over themselves and speak up.
Not that I expect any of them to be completely honest in their responses, they are politicians after all, but say something. At least say you understand why people are upset. Isn’t that politics 101? The noncommittal response? As well, I don’t buy Harrison’s non-apology apology. Call it semantics if you want, but “IF I offended anyone...” is no apology at all. You did offend someone. Apologize for THAT.
Now that you’ve resigned, go back to being a private citizen and post all the hateful, divisive, Russian-bot memes you want. You’re “friends” will sort them out.
Michael S. Miller, Arroyo Grande
What did Compton know?
If Supervisor Lynn Compton continues to maintain that she knew nothing of Jim Harrison’s background before she appointed him, then the moon is made of green cheese.
Jim Paglia, Atascadero
Low bar in Nipomo
Jim Harrison as citizen of the year? What a low bar we have here in Nipomo.
Supervisor Compton, he’s your appointment, and your problem.
Perhaps the dust plume from the dune riders has clouded your judgment.
No matter what Harrison says, to the core he’s bought into the “alt facts” of the Trump grifters.
You may believe in less government and fewer regulations, personal responsibility and lower taxes. That’s a philosophy, and we can debate its merits. But there should be no daylight when it comes to supporting this bloviating commissioner who at his heart supports the ideologies of the “alt right.”
Trump may say “there were good people on both sides” after the Charlottesville tiki torch parade.
Supervisor Compton, there can be no sides here. Your support of Harrison tacitly puts you in his corner. You’re a better person than that!
Laurance Shinderman, Nipomo
Liberal hypocrisy
Your editorial saying “ SLO official should resign over Nazi Facebook Posts” is classic liberal hypocrisy at its best. Where is your outrage at all the lies and outrageous statements by liberals in Congress and your opinion page itself?
Where is your condemnation of Maxine Waters and other prominent Democrats who routinely make statements far worse than what you accuse Jim Harrison of reposting ?
You rely on Tom Fulks, the most biased liberal agitator who writes columns in your ultra- liberal newspaper, to report to you posts from Facebook he and you find “tasteless.” This is really priceless coming from Tom Fulks and The Tribune, which constantly publishes less than tasteless articles and cartoons about our president and Republicans. Obviously truth is in the eye of the beholder since you allow these cartoon characters depicting unflattering pictures of President Trump and captions that are total lies that I find offensive. Are we now going to have liberal Facebook police searching for posts on social media they don’t like?
What happened to the cry by liberals that anything said by Trump haters is protected by the First Amendment?
Allen Litten, Atascadero
Orwellian logic
I was banned recently from Facebook, apparently for objecting on my SLOSense page to SLO County Planning Commissioner Jim Harrison equating all Democrats to Nazis. Harrison wasn’t banned by Facebook for hate posting. I was, for calling attention to it.
In America today, seemingly, hate is cool, thoughtfulness is stupid, lies are “alternative facts.”
We’re experiencing what George Orwell described as “double thinking” — mutually opposing beliefs are inhabiting our minds simultaneously.
My SLOSense missive featured offensive screen grabs (since deleted from Harrison’s page) of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dressed as a Nazi and another featuring a swastika-emblazoned Democratic Party donkey.
This, apparently, triggered Facebook’s “community standards” algorithm robot, not distinguishing between indignation against hate and hate itself. Since there’s no human at Facebook to argue with, I’ll just have to wait for the robots that now control our online news intake and social interactions to parole me from Facebook jail, if and whenever that might be.
In the meantime, let’s reflect on what we should expect in public statements by our public officials: Mindless acceptance of vile, immoral and hateful rants, or thoughtful efforts to bridge divides and solve problems? The South County Chamber of Commerce and Lynn Compton might consider thinking twice about Mr. Harrison’s fitness for public accolades and public office.
Tom Fulks, Morro Bay
He’s got to go
Jim Harrison must go; either by his immediate resignation or his sponsor, Lynn Compton, stepping up, representing all her constituents and terminating his service on the Planning Commission. His Facebook postings are now well known and described in detail in both an article and editorial in The Tribune.
They are offensive, violate the expressed precepts of the County Planning Commission and reflect a point of view that promulgates racism and unequal treatment of all Americans. The referenced postings were removed upon publication by The Tribune, further substantiating his need for removal. As Richard Nixon exemplified, it’s the cover-up, not the offense, that gets you in the end.
His hateful views on the citizenry of our community specifically and America in general hold no place for a public official. He’s entitled to his opinions, as offensive as they are, but as a private citizen — not as a leader in our community. As he has not, as of this writing, submitted his resignation, it’s time for Lynn to step up and end this unmitigated fiasco.
Jack Moyer, Nipomo
‘Y’all lames’
About Jim Harrison, all for freedom of speech and whatnot but all that anti- Muslim rhetoric and extreme right-wing views is the majority mindset of the county. People like that are going to stay in office until the boomers die out. Likely not anytime soon since they influence the younger generation there. Nothing will change.
San Luis Obispo is kind of a blight regardless, plenty of spoiled rich kids to flaunt their parents’ cash and starting fights with the locals. Lots of homeless immigrating in since y’all pretty much condone smoking methamphetamine rather than relax on cannabis regulations. Yellow journalism, corruption in the courts, you name it. That’s just slow county and I’m rambling.
I think my point was that anti-left and anti-right don’t amount to much. SLO county hasn’t really been a good place to chill since 2012-13. People just keep making more laws and regulations on everything.
Y’all lames.
Alec Stephenson, Manteca
Don’t hold your breath
Hopefully by the time this letter hits the paper Jim Harrison would have resigned as a member of the SLO County Planning Commission or Lynn Compton would have asked him to resign.
But, we should not hold our breath. When both were asked for a comment as of Friday nothing was said. This is leadership? Apparently his Facebook page showed many hateful comments and a discredited theory.
Such bigoted ignorance does not deserve to serve our county.
Nipomo citizen for 2019? Who came up with that? Whoever did needs to do more vetting instead of naming one of the good old boys in local politics.
It’s a new day in this county and time for this vitriol, rascism and ugliness to stop. Such officials should step away from leadership roles and let people who do not have such a hideous agenda serve our county.
Linda Reynolds, Nipomo
Citizen of the year?
The South County Chamber of Commerce has chosen as its citizen of the year for Nipomo, Jim Harrison, who serves as Lynn Compton’s Planning Commissioner. According to their Facebook post, the Citizen of the Year award “recognizes outstanding and unselfish contributions to the South County Community.” One would think such recognition would be bestowed on someone who strives to serve all of the community and model civic behavior that is exemplary in its decency and neighborly concern. This is not so in the case of Mr. Harrison.
Harrison’s vile and divisive posts on his personal Facebook page show the kind of far-right extremist the South County Chamber has chosen to honor. Mr. Harrison makes light of comparing people he disagrees with to Nazis. This is degrading to all, not only to Jews and his other chosen targets, but to all Americans who understand the lasting historical horror of the Nazis. Thus, we call into Mr. Harrison’s judgement and fitness to lead.
We urge the South County Chamber to withdraw its honor of Mr. Harrison and for Lynn Compton to rescind his appointment to the Planning Commission. If they do not, they are complicit in perpetuating his vitriol.
The Chamber has the opportunity to act with integrity and preserve the reputation of its members by taking immediate action.
Rosemary Wrenn
Chair, SLO County Democratic Party
What would Jesus say?
Jim Harrison has now taken down his hate-filled memes comparing American citizens to Nazis and now has cutesy posts about God and love. But we now know the real Harrison and he certainly isn’t nice, nor does he deserve to be on the Planning Commission or any other organization where he represents the general public. You’re a disgrace, Jim. Time for a little self-reflection.
Jill A. Stegman, Grover Beach
Remove Harrison
There was an article in the Dec. 29 Tribune about Jim Harrison, who is on the county Planning Commission.
I was shocked that he is racist and was appointed by Lynn Compton. He was caught putting disgraceful comments on Facebook. Why on earth would Lynn appoint someone like him to represent us on the Planning Commission?
Not only that, she’s extending his employment. This is certainly a reflection on all of the county supervisors. We do not need someone like him with absolutely no integrity.
Jim Harrison needs to be removed immediately.
Joy Fox, San Luis Obispo
Apology needed
According to a recent Tribune article, Mr. Jim Harrison is a former fire department chief, a Nipomo citizen of the year, and a public servant. By all rights a “model citizen.”
He’s also a passionate, far-right conservative. I don’t care. But I do care when he or any public servant/model citizen chooses to be disrespectful, contemptuous and insulting. This is not merely abandoning political correctness, it is a flaw in character and civility. This type of behavior is tearing America apart.
I suspect Mr. Harrison thought reposting memes on Facebook characterizing the speaker of the house and the Democratic Party as Nazis was somehow fun-loving or cute. It’s neither. I also suspect that he knew that when he decided to delete the offending posts. Deleting the offending posts is not sufficient. A model citizen would take responsibility for a lapse in judgment. A model citizen would instruct their children and grandchildren that disrespect is not appropriate behavior. A model citizen would find ways to convey convictions without demeaning others. A model citizen would lead by example that is praise-worthy rather than inflammatory. A model citizen would apologize.
Mr. Harrison, it is not too late to remove the tarnish.
Hal Thilmony, San Luis Obispo
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 11:55 AM.
