Jonathan Walther wrote:
Wagner was not defined by his anti-Semitism; he was defined by his music, which was universally humanist. To make his anti-Semitism out to be as important as his music is really really unbalanced. The version Ed had was fine. Noone today reads any of Wagners "anti-Semitic" works, but millions listen to his music with pleasure. It is appropriate that it be mentioned Wagner was anti-Semitic, but to devote more than a passing mention to it as if it was the man's raison d'etre for existing does a gross injustice to a man who is dead and unable to defend himself.
You should be thankful Ed was protecting the page; where Ed left in a whole paragraph on Wagners anti-Semitism, I wanted to reduce it to a single sentence. But I can live with Ed's version as an acceptable compromise.
Sigh! I have to support Jonathan's view on this one. Some people unfortunately treat it as a virtue to emphasize somebody's anti-Semitism.
Eclecticology