Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANSALVADOR300
2006-02-06 18:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:  

DVC EVALUATION: WHY STUDY U.S. HISTORY?

Tags:  OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO ES 
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UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000300 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA-JMANES, WHA/PDA-RQUIROZ, WHA/CEN-
PDEGLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO ES
SUBJECT: DVC EVALUATION: WHY STUDY U.S. HISTORY?

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000300

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA-JMANES, WHA/PDA-RQUIROZ, WHA/CEN-
PDEGLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO ES
SUBJECT: DVC EVALUATION: WHY STUDY U.S. HISTORY?


1. SUMMARY: On January 31, David Brooks - a Human
Rights/Labor officer at Embassy Lima - posed the question
"Why Study U.S. History" to an audience of 45 professors,
teachers and representatives of museums and the National
Archives of El Salvador, all of whom received a copy of the
Department of State publication "Outline of American
History" and a CD-Rom developed by Dr. Brooks to accompany
his presentation.


2. SPEAKER'S BACKGROUND: David Brooks holds a M.A. in
American Studies and a Ph.D. in Latin American History. He
contributed a chapter on ant-Americanism in Nicaragua to
Paul Hollander's book "Understanding Anti-Americanism," and
he has written for numerous other publications. He joined
the Foreign Service in 1994 and received the Secretary's
Award for Public Outreach in June 2004. While serving in
Nicaragua, he set up the Nicaraguan Association for the
Study of the United States, which continues to this day.


3. EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM AND SPEAKER: Dr. Brooks used as
a base for his talk the asymmetric relationship between
Japan and the United States in the years leading up to and
following World War II, showing how two proud societies
eventually overcame their many misconceptions about one
another to work together for their mutual benefit. Dr.
Brooks explained why it was important to go beyond daily
headlines and understand what made a society "tick." He
encouraged the audience to expand their perspective on US
History and US-Salvadoran relations.

Dr. Brooks's command of the subject, his strong Spanish
skills and his engaging style made him an enjoyable speaker
who kept his audience's attention. During the DVC, Dr.
Brooks suggested creating an American Studies Group in El
Salvador and PAS is now approaching academics and others
that may be interested in being part of such a group.


4. U.S. EMBASSY-LIMA SUPPORT: Excellent. Post thanks CAO
Abigail Gonzalez and speaker David Brooks for their ongoing
interest and work on the DVC and their excellent preparation
for the conference.

Barclay