Detroit. Baltimore. San Francisco. St. Louis. Atlanta. Washington D.C. The work product of Appomattox.
Yeah, then there’s that...
I think what Shelby was referring to was that the way the “concept” of the United States was seen by individuals and governments was radically altered, and while it was a profound alteration it was accomplished so definitively on a global scale while at the same time imperceptible by those whose perceptions had changed. Literally no one commented on it at the time. Without putting a value judgement on it one has to admit that it is pretty amazing to have this radical a shift in global perceptions of individuals and groups about anything in such a short period of time as four years and at the same time have that shift go essentially unnoticed by all those whose perceptions had been altered. It is amazing. If we could just accomplish a fraction of that even in only those of us in this country we would have seriously accomplished something. We might even be able to undo some of the damage done these last hundred years.