Thoughts on Conrad Black

As I write, Lord Conrad Black is nearing the first week of his newly gained, albeit tentative, freedom.

Black is a man who engenders a great deal of emotion and passion. He is certainly not a man for whom the words 'neutral' or 'equivocating' apply. To have accomplished what he has in life - writing acclaimed biographies, building a global media powerhouse, and frequently commenting on public issues - it would be difficult to approach life with aloofness and dispassion.

Of course, when one lives much of their lives in the public spotlight, they become, in a sense, a public commodity. They transform into something that is more image than flesh and blood. They also become a tableau, a screen upon which one projects their own hopes, fears, joys and pain.

Of the people who have expressed an opinion on the guilt or innocence of Conrad Black, scarcely one out of a thousand have stood within one hundred feet of the man, let alone traded a couple of bon mots. The reaction is not to a man, but to a representation of what our basic predispositions and prejudices happen to be toward his persona.

I began a correspondence with Lord Black a year before he was sent to Coleman. A little over a year ago, while on a family vacation, I took a detour to that institution, where he graciously hosted me one afternoon. While I consider myself a friend, I would not go so far as to label myself a confidante, nor do I wish to discuss the nature of what we spoke of - after all, friendship by its definition implies respect and discretion.

What I can say is that Conrad Black is a remarkable man - both as a public persona and as a mere mortal. Having the opportunity for even a cursory glance of the human behind the projection gave me a real sense of what motivates this individual who has generated as much ink as he has distributed in his career.

There are those who debate whether his fight for exoneration is legitimate, but such discussions are largely irrelevant. The position is predetermined before the debate begins, and neither side has the benefit of knowing a man's heart and his motivations.

My opinion?

When a man has a healthy respect and estimation of himself, his family and loved ones, and when his reputation - not status, reputation - means more than money, it would be self-delusional to protest one's innocence where it does not exist. When one's passion is history, there is an implicit understanding that the truth - somehow, somewhere - always reveals itself. An attempt at subterfuge would only provide a temporary salve.

I believe that Conrad Black is an innocent man. I also believe that his understanding of history and society demands that he fight vigorously for his name to be cleared. I also believe that the physical separation from his family and loved ones, combined with his first hand look at the US justice system - flaws and all - merely reinforces this desire.

While I do not know for certain what the outcome of this process will be, I feel somewhat confident that the next time I see Conrad Black, it will not be in a crowded prison reception area with a couple of armed guards standing nearby.