I find myself so totally absorbed in this discussion on a level that
perhaps only Gottfried Wagner or perhaps some of the German listers may
understand.  I was raised in a family that was ashamed of itself for
being German.  As I child, I knew not why.  I know my father would not
speak it, although I was raised very much as Gottfried Wagner describes his
upbringing.  Wagner was prominent on the LP shelf, as was Richard Strauss.

Yesterday, here in Los Angeles, the tragic events at the Jewish Day Camp
haunted me all day.  I was sitting in a restaurant (where I dine regularly)
reading "Twilight of the Wagners." There is a photo of Hitler on the cover
of the book standing with Wolfgang and Wieland.  A waiter I know came up to
me and said, " I knew you were German, but I didn't know you were a Nazi as
well." This for just reading a book with Hitler's photo on it!

Wagner is a trigger, like a confederate flag is to African-Americans.  Must
I feel ashamed, (collective guilt?) for listening to Wagner? For READING a
book with AH's photo on it? All day yesterday, I felt ashamed to be German.
Why? Have we overdone the guilt thing? Have I been reading too much
Gottfried Wagner?

I agree, we must never forget the crimes of German National Socialism.
The hate of the Wagner family in Bayreuth.  The lunacy of ethnic cleansing.
But will I ever be able to listen to the opera's of Wagner, to Strauss who
was from my beloved Bavaria without feeling dirty?

Rachel Ehrenberg
Los Angeles