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-Do you think people have expectations of how they are supposed to feel?
I think that everyone thinks that they should feel really, really guilty. They walk in, and they don't because they have so many defense mechanisms immediately springing up. And then they walk along and feel kind of angry because they're not feeling anything because they feel they have to force themselves to feel in a certain way. And it's hard to just say "let it happen" because it's very fear-based.
-What do you think is the best way people should prepare for a visit?
Well, I think it goes on an individual basis, but also, I think with people outside the German culture, it's done pretty well. It's very easy for us to say, "The Germans did a bad, bad thing." I think the preparation process and the education process needs to be more comprehensive within Germany. I realize it's a hard thing for the German conscience to deal with, but I really feel there needs to be more done.
I'm pretty happy that when most American groups come to Germany, they almost always visit a concentration camp. It's very easy for us to be like, "Those bad, bad Germans, look what they have done." So I think that we do a pretty good job of it.
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