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William Kittredge on the Mistakes of Westward Expansion

The writer inherited his family's ranch, but later sold it when he moved to Iowa for graduate school. Kittredge critiques the belief that humans have the moral authority to develop and tame the American West. This mythology, he says, has led to ecological destruction and the genocide of American Indians. His new collection of essays about the subject is called Owning it All.

28:05

Other segments from the episode on December 14, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, December 14, 1988: Interview with William Kittredge; Review of reissued recordings of Elliott Carter's music; Interview with Ron Goulart; Review of Barry Fleming's novel …

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