We are saddened by the decision of Point Loma Nazarene University officials to pull an invitation to have former Mexican President Vicente Fox speak on campus for two reasons.
The first is that the flap is likely to be the only thing many people around the nation know about the university, an impressive liberal arts school with a rich history.
The second is that the reason for the disinvitation — Fox's support for drug legalization as a way to tamp down Mexico's chronic cartel violence — is hardly outrageous. We don't agree with Fox. Yet we understand why a Mexican leader who's witnessed chaos in his country might question the status quo.
The same holds for Americans who wonder about the drug war's lack of progress.
Joe Watkins, the university's vice president of external relations, said the university "highly values" vigorous debate but also values the "tradition and teaching of the Church of the Nazarene." When Fox spoke out about legalization, Watkins said, the university decided to support efforts to find another San Diego venue for him. He will speak April 7 at the University of San Diego.
We understand the university's rationale. But we fear the Fox decision has damaged its reputation.
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