An important day in Provo
That has naturally led to protests and debates. Universities are supposed to be places where ideas are exchanged and considered, and where political philosophies are bantered. So long as the discussion remains civil, it is a positive thing. Anyone who won't listen to debate believes he or she has nothing to learn, which is a sad misconception.
Nor is it proper to show disrespect toward those who are bringing in speakers of their own to counter the vice president. This is a nation in which no single political philosophy or public-policy choice should be considered the last word.
However, it is equally important to recognize the vice president as a person worthy of respect. He, along with the president, was twice elected to the office. Having him speak to its graduates today is indeed an honor for BYU.
By the time they graduate, university students ought to possess the skills to independently examine issues, measure them against their own sets of core values and reach intelligent conclusions. This has made some of the opposition to the vice president's visit a bit insulting. Cheney's speech is neither an endorsement from the university or its sponsoring church (which also owns this newspaper), nor is it a mandate for graduates to vote a certain way in the future.
It is not something to be feared. Rather, the vice president's speech will be a memorable send-off for graduates commencing a lifelong pursuit of learning.
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