Germany's horrible fate compels our interest, even if this interest is devoid of sympathy. Any attempt to arouse sympathy would certainly be an inappropriate undertaking for one of german birth to day. To play the part of the judge, to cuurse and damn his own people, in compliant agreement with the incalculable hatred that they have kindled,. That too would hardly befit. One of german ology. Should the german avoid this subject to day, i would scarcely have known what other subject to choose for this evening.
As the Nazi nightmare came to an end Thomas Mann thought long and hard about collective guilt. Can Mann’s idea help America in 2021, or do we need a new theory of collective shame.