Understanding Hitler

Re the new CBS miniseries of Adolf Hitler’s early years (“Giving Hitler a Human Side,” by Paul Brownfield, Aug. 19): Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, states that “history has made a judgment of the man, he’s a monster. So now, why do we need to know when he dated, how he dated? ... We know who he is, we know what he did, what are we going to learn?”

Isn’t that what the Palestinians are probably saying about Ariel Sharon? And what Jews are saying about Yasser Arafat?

Obviously Foxman would prefer not to learn anything, even from history. With that attitude, it’s no wonder peace has eluded the Israelis and Palestinians. Only through understanding can there ever be change. But perhaps that is what Foxman fears the most: Change is scary.

WILL RAY

Burbank

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In the ‘70s I wrote a detailed treatment titled “Young Hitler’s Secret Life” that was optioned by Bob Banner Associates and taken to NBC. My approach to the material emphasized young Hitler’s deep interest in German mysticism and the occult. In a way, he was literally a sorcerer’s apprentice.

NBC was very, very high on the material but eventually let it go when potential sponsors did their own research and said no matter how the material was presented, the very fact that it was on TV would cause up to 20% of the audience to “sympathize with Hitler” since it attempted to understand or explain (not defend) the monster in human terms.

I was amazed. It’s unlikely things have changed and it will be interesting to see how CBS deals with the core material as well as the potentially volatile response from those for and against the broadcast.

Hitler was one of us. His true story should be known and told. The horror of Hitler is that he was a nobody who discovered the most base pathology of the biggest audience. Not unlike network decisions.

ROBIN SIMMONS

Desert Hot Springs