This vision became shared by thousands across America and became the galvanizing force for the civil rights revolution of the sixties. It is not even an important idea such as freedom. It is, rather, a force in people's hearts, a force of impressive power. It may be inspired by an idea, but once it goes further - if it is compelling enough to acquire the support of more than one person then it is no longer an abstraction. It is palpable.
People begin to see it as if it exists.
Few, if any, forces in human affairs are as powerful as shared vision. I expect that all of us have at some time been part of a group where the vision became widely shared and where the energies of all were released with uncommon power. It is the stuff of which cathedrals were built in the Middle Ages. When a shared vision which people genuinely want to achieve is lacking, forces in support of the status quo within the organization or group may become overwhelming. Minor disagreements, personal shortcomings, and tendencies towards case-making begin to loom large.