International Understanding Class: The American West
On November 28, 2008, I gave a talk entitled "The American West: Dreams and Reality" at an I-PAL International Understanding Class.
Starting with the geography and nature of my native Colorado, I then went on to explain the geography of the western part of the United States. After that, I compared the images that many people have of the West, such as cowboys and Indians, with the historical realities of the area. For example, I explained about the Indian Wars, the development of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War. After my speech was finished, I fielded questions from the audience.
