This would create a productive discussion among readers, not the sporadic, vague, non-committal suggestions the author currently includes. McPherson only begins to hint at an idea for a topic in the last two pages, where he examines the hypothesis of whether or not John Brown was a terrorist. However, he leaves this answer up in the air by stating that what one person believes is terrorism, another believes is an act of heroism – yet another open thought with no assertions about what a firm answer might be. For me, this was the only part where I was truly led to think more deeply about the impact of an individual's actions as a symbol beyond the Civil War. It was only afterward that I could look back and dig into the essay to find the vague statement of the larger impact that was woven through the narratives of these individuals' lives. I understand that these topics are incredibly subjective and sensitive, but this is why, more than any other reason, McPherson should be writing to get a clear answer to this hotly debated topic and not the subtle ones.