The Art of Censorship “I think if you could talk like this, sitting among your enemies, peace would come, ” – Captain to Mamoud, The Death of Klinghoffer

As a child, I was taught not to judge a person based on one’s ideas or opinions, but rather through their actions towards others. I learned that, though some people may not agree with me on every issue, it was how I handled this disagreement that mattered. Most importantly, I was told I should never ignore an opinion I disliked simply because I did not approve; instead, I was challenged to learn from this differing ideals, to make myself and my own opinions stronger. Though this value has been challenged many times, I have grown to extend this idea to other forms of interaction, whether it be arts, religion, or politics. When I heard of The Death of Klinghoffer and the controversy surrounding it, I was astonished by such actions within the arts community. Music and art are often seen as media in which any expression or opinion can be given. Yet, for Klinghoffer, this was not the case. And as I researched further, both by reading criticisms and listening to recordings, I could not see the dangers with the performance. In fact, I found Klinghoffer to be stimulating and thought provoking, offering up a different side of discussion not always heard in today’s politica