There’s a strange and delightful footnote to this morning’s hearing in Chicago determining Conrad Black’s fate. Not too long ago Black was approached by the organizers of the Massey Lectures to deliver the annual series of talks “at some point in the future.” The lecturers are, in the admittedly limited realm of Canadian public speaking, meant to be primus inter pares.
Co-sponsored by Massey College, House of Anansi Press and CBC Radio’s Ideas program, the lecture series has in the past drawn some very big names, such Martin Luther King, Willy Brandt, Noam Chomsky and Doris Lessing. Lately it’s been a little less, how to say, stirring: Doug Coupland, Wade Davis, Alberto Manguel. So who better than his lordship to stir the pot. He can’t, it seems, open his mouth without pissing somebody off (remember, from his 2007 trial, “the prosecution is wearing this case around their necks like a toilet seat”?). Perfect.
Problem is Conrad has enemies in these here parts. The idea had gone a certain distance down the road (a senior rep from the Massey coalition had gone to Florida to see his Lordship in the Hoosegow) when, of all people, former GG, and ardent Black hater Adrienne Clarkson’s head started spinning around like that poor girl in The Exorcist. Famously she confronted Massey College El Jefe John Fraser in front of the York Club last summer and “spat nails” at him for five whole minutes. At any rate, the notion is presently in drydock with little hope of its ever being revived. Too bad really. Black was meant to have talked about whether Canada is currently “punching above its weight.” No doubt Tubby would have known whereof he spoke.
