Air and Simple Gifts

Forgetting the whole brouhaha about the performance being pre-recorded, the performance of John William's Air and Simple Gifts has plenty of aspects which speak of America's strengths.
The musical material was drawn by Williams from his compatriot Copland, and had originated from a Shaker hymn. What does this tell us? No doubt, that America, a young nation though it may be compared to Europe's grand old dames, has a considerable cultural heritage.
The performers, all world-class masters in their instruments, were all American by descent or choice, and represented four different ethnicities. Could the implication be any clearer? America has drawn, and continues to draw, the best talent from all over the world, and to produce its own talent too.