[Leica] Peter's article on Wagner is up

[jsmith342 at gmail.com (Jefffery Smith)]

I became fond of Wagner's orchestral music (not the operas) before I  
knew what a Nazi or anti-semitism was. Once I heard of the connection  
between the two, it didn't change my appreciation for the music. I  
have a colleague who will not listen to music conducted by Von  
Karajan, for the same reason. In both cases, I don't equate listening  
to music with celebrating or supporting or condoning Naziism.

When one of the math instructors at the college was looking for a new  
car (his Saturn was a lemon), suggested that he buy a Honda. He is in  
his 70's and barked back that he would not buy anything made by  
Japanese. I told him "You are buying the car for you, not them."

Why fight intolerance with intolerance? Who wins there? I agree that  
those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it, but  
listening to a Wagnerian opera is hardly repeating Naziism.

Jeffery