My fellow American: If you are sick and tired of reading, hearing about, or even being involved in the rancor in Washington, riots, lootings, burning businesses, mass shootings reported on almost every newscast, and other terrible things taking place in our society, I want to share an idea whose time has come. I grew up back in the 1950s and we never had any of this stuff back then, never. If enough people are willing to get involved in what I want to share with you in this column, over time we can change it. What this means is that working together, we must change our culture. If you doubt this is possible, let me remind you of a famous quote by Anthropologist Margaret Mead. She said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
I want to say upfront that I don't have a political agenda. I have an American agenda and it's important for all politicians to understand that they are working for us, the American people. Those of us who love our country, are law-abiding and have worked hard to build the greatest nation in the history of the world deserve better. We have had this in the past and we can have it again. This concept is vital for the future of our children and grandchildren. Here is my proposal and I hope you will give it some prayerful and serious consideration.
As most of my readers know, I am the founder of a literacy project titled, "Bookcase for Every Child." We provide free of change, quality, personalized bookcases and a starter set of books to children being reared in low-income families. We are making a real difference here in my community but in the coming years, we must spread this project all across the nation. The majority of low-income families do not have books in the home for their children to read. When they start to school with an inferior vocabulary they are much more likely to be illiterate and later become high school dropouts. They lose and we all lose. Winners are readers and you won't find them doing the things I mentioned earlier.
Our local Conway Kiwanis Club has taken over our bookcase project and there are thousands of Kiwanis Clubs all across America. If they know the benefits most of these clubs can and will also have a bookcase project. To fund the startup of these projects these clubs can receive financial help from the sale of my book "Your Future Begins Today." This book was written with 1950s values and over the next decade my goal is to sell 100 million copies. When we help pre-school children from low-income families succeed and stay in school, and most of our citizens read and study a book with 1050s values, good things will happen.
Here is a book review by Carolyn K. Brinkley, a lady who bought and read this book: "This book is written for any age group! Every chapter has timeless jewels of wisdom for living, containing common sense truths, goals, financial wisdom and contribution to name only a few topics. Easy to read, easy to understand & filled with principles that, if studied and applied will produce the fruits of success for anyone. You'll find Mr. Davidson's writing style enjoyable, succinct, and filled with good food for the mind. Thank you Mr. Davidson, for sharing your years of wisdom in this book."