A provocative and contrarian work – filled with great lessons from history – that challenges the pervasive notion that America is on the decline.
Once every decade, it is “decline time” in America. In recent years, it has been the unstoppable rise of China that has spelled “finis America.” What the Chinese juggernaut is today, the Soviet Union (“We shall bury you”) was in the 1950s. The Vietnam decade of the 1960s was described as America’s “collective suicide attempt,” while in the 1970s, the United States succumbed to Jimmy Carter’s famous “malaise,” as the dollar dangerously plummeted. The 1980s unquestionably belonged to a resurgent Japan, the “Rising Sun,” whereas in the 1990s, Europe shone forth as an “empire by example.” In the naughts, it was “Asia Rising” that became the flavor of the decade.
Despite a litany of prognostications, these contenders have all fallen back, one by one. While it may be catnip for the media to play up America as a has-been, Josef Joffe, a leading German commentator and Stanford University academic, compellingly shows that declinism is not a cold-eyed diagnosis but a device in the style of the ancient prophets: “Thou shalt perish, unless…”
Gloom is a prophecy that must be believed so that it will turn out wrong. Joffe repeatedly demonstrates how the “economic miracles” that propelled the rising tide of challengers flounder against their own limits. Hardly confined to Europe alone, declinism has also been an especially nifty career builder for American politicians, among them Kennedy, Nixon, and Reagan, who all rode into the White House by hawking “the end is near.”
As witnessed by today’s ever bitter and partisan politics, politicians continue to talk about how much of a decline America is on and that the “end is near”, that we are losing our global standing in the world and soon to be overtaken by the likes of China, Russia, and whatever other “Johnny-come-lately”. Of course, the more conservative the politics, the more hawkish the politicians tend to be, as you can witnessed by the “carnival barking” of the entire slate of Republican presidential candidates, headed by the one and only, Donald Trump. It’s basically a lot of “bogeyman” politics, and that the rest of the world is evil, and we are such pure souls, and our liberties and rights that we work so hard for, are at stake.
This book goes through a lot of great history, decade by decade, and which should look like another rising power was going to take the lead in the world, be it, Germany, Japan, Soviet Union, and now China. The book shows us that all of this talk has come and gone throughout the years, yet America, even with its flaws, is still better than 98% of the rest of the world.
Enjoy this book, and especially keep in mind during the presidential election campaigns that are going on, and when the politicians are telling you how poorly we are doing, just realize, that we are the best of the best here in America.
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
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
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 jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org 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
