Many BYU alumni are appalled that anyone would take the stance that BYU should not invite Dick Cheney to speak at this April's commencement activities. Many of us don't agree with policies Cheney has espoused but we don't believe that petition to silence free speech at BYU is the way to do it. BYU's invitation of Cheney to speak is not a reflection on the University or the Church any more than the invitations to people such as Paul Tsongas, Scott Matheson, or any other Democrat who has come to the University does.
Reasonable people can listen to all view points and we should not attempt to silence those view points simply because we disagree with the speaker.
Our solution is that if you don't want to hear what Cheney has to say, don't attend the Commencement ceremonies.
