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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Captain Jerry Coffee – Vietnam War POW, Keynote Speaker, Author and Media Commentator Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Jay-R Patron, Philippines May 18, 2007
Culture , Human Rights , Peace & Conflict   Interviews

  

Captain Jerry Coffee – Vietnam War POW, Keynote Speaker, Author and Media Commentator
EL: What advice can you give to businesspeople out there on things they can do to improve their own communication?

JC: Compassion and understanding, I think, is very important. Communicating in a way where, as you can imagine, we were tapping on the walls, brevity is paramount, and to not get carried away with verbosity and so on. If you have a message or something to communicate you simply say it open and honestly, without worrying about being politically correct. Be sensitive, but don't hurt another person's feelings unnecessarily. But, you have to get the message out; business has to be done certainly. Communicating briefly, to the point, and face to face is most important. Susan and I, across the same desk, we work facing each other, sometimes will send an email to each other, not when we're sitting there, you know you'll be seeing her in five minutes, but why not just wait and tell her, but I'll just send her an email. It's crazy.

KL: We sit across from each other, and while we're still sitting there we'll still email each other, so it's a good example.

JC: It's just one example of how technology has separated us in our humanness, and that's one of the things that a good leader has to be conscious of is to try to maximize those person-to-person contacts.

KL: Are you able to share us a little bit about that you involvement in the community and some of the organizations that you're involved in?

JC: I'd be glad to, Kari. One of the reasons that I'm here is that I believe so much in what the two of you are doing for our community in emphasizing the importance of coordination among businesspeople to businesspeople, to the name of your radio, Greater Good Radio, it says it right there. Sometimes we forget about the "greater good," because we get so wrapped up in our little unique business issues. But everybody doesn't have the luxury of doing that, because sometimes business is just darn tough and you don't have time for community involvement and I recognize that. I'm lucky to have reached a point in my career where I do have more time now, and I've been the chairman of the Governor's Civil Defense Advisory Council and I've been active in the City and County of Honolulu Charter Commission as one of the commissioners in the last several months, as we winnow through the recommendations for changes to the charter and the changes that will go on the ballot in November, for example. That's been a very challenging, but also gratifying, endeavor. I'm a very strong advocate of Boy Scouts of America. I don't have very many regrets in my life, but one of them is that I didn't stay a Boy Scout long enough to make Eagle. I got one rank away and then I learned about girls; I guess my interests changed at the wrong time. But, I really admire the Boy Scouts of America and what they stand for, the kind of young men -- and women in Girl Scouts' case -- that they turn out; really good solid citizens for our country. I eagerly speak to civic organizations and Rotary, Kiwanis, Elk's Club, things like that, to help people understand the importance of community involvement. When I speak I talk about faith in ourselves, in one another, faith in our country, America and faith in God. The faith in one another is where we communicate with each other and solve problems together by coming together as a civic organization where we get involved -- and as an aside, it's good networking for business too, but nevertheless the primary motivation has to be for the good of the community, and then everything good accrues from that.

EL: Why are you involved with these things? Why is it important to you? Why is it important for you to work with these community organizations in Hawaii?

JC: Well, Hawaii is my home, in the first place. As I just wrote in a column recently, I love Hawaii, I've been here for 32 years and I live here by choice. I'm on it by choice, so to speak. Just like when I lived in California, born and raised in California, I called myself a Californian, but now I'm in Hawaii, so I'm Hawaiian, of Hawaii, not a native Hawaiian obviously, but I'm of Hawaii now. I choose to live here. I love the community, I love the aloha spirit, I love the culture and the language and the music and I just wouldn't want to live anywhere else if I could help it. That's one of the reasons I try to be active in the community, to help improve wherever I can. I feel a responsibility as well, to the old thing -- much is given, many are requested. That's a paraphrase, but if you have the means to give back, be involved, then I think you should. The Civil Defense Advisory Council is also important to me because I take seriously the terrorist threat to our country and to our community, particularly to Honolulu right now. I fear that too many people still have their heads in the sand. They're in denial about what we face in our war against Islam-fascist terrorism, and to make sure that our community is safe and to make sure our readiness level is maintained at a high level, and that people are informed about their needs in a disaster or emergency situation. I was very gratified that the governor also shares that feeling and has devoted much of our surplus to upgrading the shelters that are necessary, and even going so far as to learn the lesson from Katrina and making space for people's pets in the shelters as well. So, it's because I feel so deeply for my community and for Hawaii and for our country, America, and the threats that are posed to both entities through international terrorism, it makes me want to be involved that much more. It's love; it's true love.







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Writer Profile
Jay-R Patron


Jay-R Patron, 24 years old, currently works as content provider for a multinational IT consultancy firm, under its interactive marketing department.

He was a writer for Hawaii-based Greater Good Inc., a media company behind the much-acclaimed Greater Good Radio. The show promotes social entrepreneurship and servant leadership.

Jay-r is a Journalism and Communication and Media Studies graduate from the University of Southern Queensland.
Comments


meddahi | Aug 15th, 2007
[x] بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والصلاة والسلام على إمام المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين..أما بعـد إنـني غاضب جــدا جــدا لأن هذه المعوقات التي تريد أن توقف مسيرتي الأدبية من شدة الفـقـر والحرمان اللذان أعيش فيهما إنهما ليعيقان مسيرة الشعرية التي ستفيد الإنسانية جمعاء بإنشاءاته الإبداعية المتشعبة الأطراف... بـيـنما أنا أنــقـح قصيدة جديدة وأنتم بحكم ثقافتكم تعلمون أن العالم أو الأديب أو الشاعر يحتاج إلى الهدوء والراحة الجسمية والمعنوية وحتى الظروف المالية .. لكي يستطيع أن ينتج أدبا رفيعا يفــيـد الإنسانية جمعاء بإنشاءاته الإبداعية المتشعبة الأطراف... إذا بأمي المكرمة تعنفـني تعنيفا كبيرا لم تحتمله نفسي وأنتم تعلمون نفسية الشاعر الحساسة إلى أقصى حدودها المترامية ............... فقلت لها إنني أعمل من خلال قصيدتي التي أتمم أجزاءها بردار خيالي من أمكنة بعيدة لا يدرك كنهها إلا من أتاهم الله تعالى يصيرة شفافة وإنه عملٌ فكريٌّ لا يستطيعه إلا أولي الأحلام و النهى ولا يفهمه إلا ذوي الألباب الناضجة فهذا العمل ليس ككل الأعمال اليدوية البسيطة التي يستطيعها أي إنسان بعد خبرة قليلة فقالت لي بكل سخرية واستهجان إنك تهــذي.. إن هـذا الأدب الي أنت تُزاوله لا يجني عليك من المال شيئا ولا من جاها......... بل أنت تضيع وقتك هباء منثورا بينما أبوك يعمل ليصرف عليك فقلت لها يا أماه يا أماه يجب أن تفهمي مرادي البعيد وسيأتي اليوم الذي ستفهمين فيه قصديَ النبيل أنــــت لا تدركــين بُعـد عـملي الفكري هذا ولا غيرك من الناس الذين لا يؤمنون إلا بالمادة التي هم يتنعمون بها دون أن يُــؤدوا شكرها اللازم لأن المولى عز وجل قد سخرها لهم في هذه الحياة الدنيا الفانية فإن هذا الأدب الذي أنا أضحي ليلا ونهارا من أجله قد حباني الله تعالى به دون أن أدرس في كبريات الجامعات لله الحمد والمنة ………………. إنه عمل جليل يشرفك ويشرف أبي الذي هو يرعى هذه الموهبة الـفــذة و يشرف وطــني العزيز و الأمة الإسلامية جميعا فقالت إن الله تعالى لا ينزل عليك من السماء كنزا إذا لم تعمل في الأعمال اليدوية ستصاب بالفقر الذي سيدفعك إلى التسول يوما من الأيام ........... نعم إن أمي تبني أحكامها على الأوضاع الجارية في الأمة العربية والإسلامية ................. وتلك الأحكام منطقية إلى أبعد الحدود ..... فكم من الأدباء تشردوا وكم من الأدباء أصابهم اليأس والقــنوط من جراء التخلف والتشرذم الذي يجري حولهم ولكن تلك العهود قد مضت ولله الحمد ونحن نرى بشائر الرقي والازدهار بادية لكل من كان له قلب أو ألـقى الســمع وهــو شهـيـد ....... ولكن لا نلوم بعض الناس لأن عقولهم لا تدرك الإرهاصات المستقبلية ببعض العوامل التي تراها في الحاضر ........... وما أضيق الحياة لولا فُسحة الأمل ... ..آلمتـني كلماتها القاسية التي نزلت على قلبي كالصاعقة المحرقة التي تحرق من القلب الرهيف كل آماله وأحلامه التي كان يحلم بها طوال السنين القاسية وأضافت إلى أسماعي كلمات أخرى بكل برودة وقالت إن هؤلاء الذين يذيعون قصائدك لمَ لم يساعدوك حتى الآن لكي تكمل مسيرتك الأدبية التي تدعيها فقلت لها يا أمي كل شيء في أوانه ينضج إنني أتألم إن وجداني ينفجر من شدة الغضب لماذا أولئك الذين لا يملكون من الكفاءات إلا الشيء القليل نراهم يكرمون ويبجلون أمام أعيننا أما نحن الشعراء نعيش وسط الحرمان والفقر المدقع لماذا لماذا وألف لماذا إنني أستنكر هذا الإهمال هذه الشريحة التي تمهد لمستقبل زاهر تتنعم فيه البشرية بالأمن والسلام والمحبة الصادقة .......... لماذا هذه اللامبــلات التي طال زمانها ..أنظروا إلى الغرب كيف تقدم لأنهم يقدرون المواهب الإبداعية في أي مجال كان، لكي يُثروا مجتمعاتهم بالأشياء النافعة التي تعود على المجتمع بالخير والرفاهية الكبيرين لماذا نهين العقول الناضجة ونكرم العقول البائسة التي لا تنتج إلا بعض التفاهات التي لا تُسمن ولا تغني من جوع ..إنني أتألم وإن وجداني ليبكي من شدة هذه الإهانات المتعددة التي تنهال علي من حين لآخر كأمثال الحجارة الصماء التي لا تسمع ولا تــنـفع ..لماذا لا تنشؤون صندوقا خاصا بالمبدعين الذين يثبتون للساحة الأدبية أنهم قادرون على الإبداع و الإختراع والإنتاج سواء الإنتاج الفكر أو اليدوي المتوفر في كل مكان عكس الإنتاج الفكري النادر لأنه يعتمد على الموهبة المُعطاة التي تغــــــــوص في بحر التجارب لتكتسب المعرفة العميقة تلك المواهب التي تكتسب بعد سنوات من الجهد المضني المرير شخصـــــــــــية قــــــــوية لا تقـتـلعها حتى أعـتا الأعاصير المدمرة هذه الشخصية التي تحقق أهدافها بإذن ربها العلي العظيم لأن أهدافها سامية ونبيلة لا ينكرها أحد من الناس العقـلاء إنها تؤثرة في المجتمعات تأثيرا إيجابيا لأنها تعي ما تقول وما تفعل لا تندفع وراء الحماسة الزائدة التي تسبب آلاما للأمة العربية والإسلامية تزيد من أزماتها المعـددة التي هي بغنى عنها وخصوصا في هذه الظروف المحزنة التي تمر عليها الإنسانية جمعاء ... ولكن الخير آت آت آت إن شاء الله تعالى فلها من الحكمة الواعية التي تضع كل شيء في محله الذي يليق به.. إن هذا العصر الذي نوجد فيه لقد انبثقت فيه معظم العبقريات الكبيرة التي أثبتت وجودها بكل فاعلية ولكنها لا تلقى الرعاية الكاملة التي تحتفظ بهذه العقول التي تنفع البشرية جميعا ....؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟............؟ من أخوكم المعذب في الأرض الشاعر العصامي مداحي العيد من الجزائر الحبيبة إلى قلوبنا جميعا meddahi | Aug 15th, 2007 [x] MERCIFUL peace and prayers be on the senders and the machine owners and all .. After I am very, very angry because these constraints that want to stop my life literary The severity of poverty and deprivation in which they lived, which hinders the march of poetry that will benefit all mankind Banchaeath creative branched parties ... While I revise a new poem and you know that the ex Thagawickam world or writer or poet needs to be calm and relaxed physical, moral and even financial circumstances .. In order to be able to produce literature High benefit humanity Banchaeath creative branched parties ... If Pamy Mecca Tanfani Taneva not significantly unbearable myself and you know psychological poet sensitive to the limits vast ............... I told them that I am working through Gosaidti which Transact Brdar imaginary parts of the places far not only aware of essences Wrath of God Isaireh transparent He also worked for reconsideration first goal only dreams and Prevention nor understood only with mature minds. It is not a whole handicraft simple can in any human being yet little experience Li said both ironic and deploring you Theve .. This literature to you do you practice you do not reap money from nothing prestige ......... But you wasted your time squander your father worked for a while you spend I told them you Amah Amah you must run, I understand Moradi day will come when my noble Stphmin You Do you not yet practical intellectual in this crowd of people who believe not only that article are Itnamon without thanks to perform necessary because God Almighty has marshalled them in this mortal life This literature which I became a day and night in which he addressed to me may God by without studying in the major universities thankfully, the best ... ... ... ... ... .... That work Jalil Echervk oversees Abe who is a sponsor of this inimitable talent and oversees national Aziz and the Islamic Ummah all She said that God does not descend from the sky, you treasure if they do not operate in manual jobs will be hit by poverty, which will push you to begging Days ........... Yes, that my mother built its case on the current situation in the Arab and Islamic nation ................. Those provisions logical extremely ..... How many literary displaced How many writers and despair suffered as a result of underdevelopment and the fragmentation that was happening around them But those times have passed, thankfully, we see positive signs of progress and prosperity displaying each have a heart or hearing a martyr ....... But do not blame some people do not realize that their minds precursors future Some of the factors that you see in the present ........... The narrower life in the expanse of hope ... .. Matni her harsh blow to my heart thunderbolt Holocaust that burns the heart of every Alerhev hopes and dreams, which he had dreamed for years of harsh Her ears to the words of another All cooling She said that those who advertise Kassaedk It did not help you until now to complement it gives moral course I told them my mother everything in premature ripens I am hurt that emotional burst of intense anger Why Those who do not have the skills, very little We see them honored and have revered Before our eyes As poets we live amid deprivation and extreme poverty Why, why and why A. I deplore this neglect of this tranche, which will pave the way for a bright future Ttnam human security and peace and love and sincere .......... Why this Allamblatt long time .. Look at how the West provided they appreciate the creative talent in any field was so enriched their objects beneficial to society and the well-being of the great minds mature Why humiliate honoring minds miserable not only produce some platitudes that do not protect fatten or hunger .. I am hurt and emotional cry of the severity of these multiple insults heaped upon from time to time Like unto stones dumb not hear no avail .. Why not Tencion special fund creators who prove to the literary arena they are capable of creativity and invention Both production and production of thought or manual Available everywhere in reverse intellectual production rare because it depends on the talent given by Sank in the Sea of tests to gain deep knowledge of those talents acquired after years of painstaking effort bitter strong personal Tuguetlaha not even Atta devastating hurricanes These personal permission achieve its objectives because the Lord Almighty objectives and lofty undeniably one of the people Sensible It preferences positive impact in the communities because they understand what it says and do not go beyond the euphoria which cause suffering to the Arab and Islamic nation further crises that are listed unnecessary, especially In these sad circumstances with the whole of humanity ... But goodness AT AT tires that, God willing, It may be prudent to develop conscious everything in place that it deserves .. That era find it has emerged how ingenious the most significant proved themselves both effective, but do not receive full care they retain minds that benefit all humankind ....???????????????? ?............? Your brother of the martyred poet in the land of self-reliant Mdahi feast Algeria beloved to all our hearts بلغ عن هذا المقال أو التعليقات عليه لTakingITGlobal علىeditorial@takingitglobal.org. يرجى ادراج الموقع أو العنوان بالتحديد للمقال الذي تقرأه والسبب وراء تبليغك عنه. اصنع العلاقات | تحرك | تصفح المصادر | عبر عن نفسك | تفهم القضايا | اكتشف



Allison McLean | Oct 22nd, 2007
What an inspiration!

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