Bill Cosby is “right on” with so many of his comments and observations on the plague that is afflicting America … apathy. I spend a great deal of time in China now a days and you don’t see apathy over there. You see what tens of millions of Chinese are embarking upon… “The China Dream”… where the middle class will continue to grow, education is going to be first and foremost, the poor will have a higher standard of living and there will be a thriving, powerful global economy…. in which China will be #1.
In the educational field that I work in (preparing Chinese students to go abroad to study to our high schools and universities here in the States… talk about standing still and watching it happen right in front of our eyes with our under-performing schools and students!!!), the vast majority of students that I work with from China are (1) high achieving, (2) highly motivated and (3) low maintenance (what a great combination of a student to work with!) and they are very focused and determined to get that quality education any which way they can. No excuses, no victim mindsets over there in China!!! If you can/don’t compete and achieve, then you’ll just have to get out of the way and settle for something much less than what you could have potentially have had. That doesn’t happen much in China because there’s an “expectation” (“you will get an education, you will get a good paying job, you will pay it back to your family/village that all contributed to your success and you will take care of and respect your parents and elders”) that is in place from an early age by family/society and peers.
We have to find a way to “Reclaim those Lost Values” that made America great in the first place. That’s what Bill Cosby is talking about in this article and he has been an outspoken voice (even if it’s in the minority) pertaining to those things throughout the years.
What happened to our “American Dream”? Why don’t we Americans seem to care enough to do anything about it anymore? Cosby is telling it like it is and that’s a good thing.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
[email protected]
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
