What happens when a civilization forgets how to honor its past? In this interview recorded during the “Identity and Europe” conference in Varese, historian David Engels addresses the deep contradictions of modern identity politics. He explores the rejection of national identity in favor of racial, gender, and fluid personal identities — and questions whether a people can still love their nation when taught to feel ashamed of its history. A powerful reflection on collective memory, cultural disintegration, and Europe’s identity crisis.