In "Protests are at center stage in Met program",10/17/14, The Washington Post asks "how do you counter protesters who, almost with defiance, say they have not seen the work?"  Does one need to read Mein Kampf to realize that Hitler was evil?  Does one need to read David Duke's full website to realize that he is a racist? No, only a few excerpts or actions are needed to make that assessment.

It is noteworthy that no examples of the offensive parts of the opera were included in the article.  If they had been, a reader would see that the Post's question held no merit.  If they had been, a reader would understand the vileness of the opera and why reading more isn't necessary. For example: "Wherever poor men are gathered they can find Jews getting fat...You [Jews] know how to cheat the simple, exploit the virgin, pollute where you have exploited...  Defame those you cheated... And break your own law with idolatry... America is one big Jew."  What more does one need to hear to assess the offensiveness of this opera?

Further, the title of the opera is "The Death of Klinghoffer" as if he died of natural causes.  Leon Klinghoffer, a wheel-chair bound senior citizen, was shot in the back of the head and dumped overboard because he was Jewish. His body washed up on the Syrian shore a few days later.

The Metropolitan Opera's portrayal of Klinghoffer's gruesome murder is an attempt to rationalize it.  But there is no rationalizing this murder - it was a wicked, evil attack against a disabled, old man.  No cause justifies this action. The fact that there is an attempt, backed up by The Washington Post, shows a huge moral failing in America today.