Rachel Ehrenberg writes:

>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?

This is a tricky area to be sure.  For example, years ago, I was a
philosophy major and there was a strong contingent who viewed Kant and
Hegel as "invalid" philosophers based on the fact that their teachings were
misused by the Nazis.  This is a disservice to Germans who lived before the
Hitler era.

Wagner was a pig.  Of this there is little debate.  However, I think it is
best to put on our critical thinking caps and draw a distinction between
the Man and those who abused the legacy of the man.  The problem arises
when we encounter those who would like to blur these lines and obfuscate
the man and those who misused the music of the man.

In essence, this debate is no different then when fundamentalists try to
ban Marilyn Manson or Ozzy Osbourne.  Some folks just get real rowled up
over the music that other folks listen to.

Steve M. (Northerrn Virginia)