Dear Fred,
If there's one thing I admire about your campaign so far it is that you have been unafraid and unapologetic when faced with tough questions. From the moment you addressed Michael Moore's claims about Cuban health care via Internet video, I saw echoes of fireside chats, updated for the current era. That you followed up with a well-thought out written reply as well demonstrated to me that there was more to you than meets the eye. Since that point, I have not been disappointed, in fact I have been encouraged by your coverage of issues in your blog and I have subscribed to it and follow it regularly.
What I find most appealing to candidate Fred Thompson is your skills in communication and your ability to make the important distinctions in complex issues clear. I admire your ability to reckon with the unsubtle storms of opponents who tried to bash you against the rocks of anti-abortionists by misrepresenting your history of advocacy as an attorney.
Given all this, I am disappointed having received some indication that you may have declined to speak at a debate to be held at Morgan State University. While candidates of your distinction must often refute the false claims of open enemies as well as advocate those causes of their dedicated supporters. So too, must candidates, and more importantly true leaders, not be daunted by circumstances in which the true intentions of their interlocutors are murky. The prospect of wading through the fog of racial symbolism is such a cloudy circumstance. In the decision surrounding the path taken through known territory and unknown territory, leadership can be determined in a moment. Such a moment has presented itself as an obstacle whether you like it or not.
Like most thoughtful Americans, I am burdened with the problem of race. I am burdened by it because others are, and in their confusion, they are apt to make broad sweeping statements that are ill-informed, biased and sometimes just downright ignorant. Nevertheless, there is always enough truth hidden among the bluster to give rise to legitimate concerns, some of which rightly deserve our best efforts and deepest consideration. Unlike Lincoln, the implications of such concerns do not move our sons and daughters to fratricide testing whether our founding principles might long endure. But we are often met on such rhetorical battlefields testing whether we have the stomach, and the presence of mind to at the very least say the right thing and encourage Americans to do the right thing. We cannot wish such political conflict away, and the courageous and righteous among us cannot ignore it. I don't like being a 'black Republican' because I have to fight stereotypes every day. You may not like being a 'white Republican' for similar reasons. When somebody calls you a liar, tell the truth.
I am interested to see that you have the stomach and the presence of mind to reconsider what I believe may be a rash, if only symbolic decision. While we are not slaves to history, we are also not immune from its ability to overshadow our actions. No presidential candidate will long endure in my good stead who is defined by a lack of action. Perhaps the invitation to Morgan State brings other connotations to your mind which are not so murky and you have good reasons to ignore it. At the very least, we who follow you should know your mind on that. So far the Fred File has been silent on Morgan State. Let us hear what you have to say. The moment is yours.
