Dealing with potential enemies

Think of being thousands of miles from home.
Native Filipinos tell you there’s trouble brewing.
The communists are coming to interrogate you.
You are physically defenseless against them.

Peace Corps volunteer Karin Muller faced such a test.
She gathered all the coffee and sugar she could find.
When the Communists arrived, she invited them in.
“Thank God you’re here,” she said. “I’ve waited all day.
“Have some coffee. Leave your guns at the door.”
The puzzled leader took off his guns and sat down for coffee.
This way she avoided interrogation - or worse.
You can’t interrogate someone you’re having coffee with.
Who dares think women are the weaker sex?

Some time ago, I took one of our elected officials to task.
He was making a mistake and I said so in a roomful of his peers.
He did not speak to me for five years. Actually shunned me.
I thought it was humorous. But the acid was eating at him.
Finally a mutual friend arranged for us to clear the air.
He spent an hour at our kitchen table justifying his actions.
Over coffee, I patiently listened and did not argue with him.
But neither did I agree that he was right and I was wrong.

He was diagnosed with cancer a few months later.
We talked on the phone several times as he underwent chemo.
He’s the hero of this story. He initiated the meeting.
He welcomed the continuing dialogue. Then cancer took him.
I had the last word - and made it a good one.
We published a tribute to him and his achievements.
A little coffee and empathy can go a long way.

Guy Kawasaki tells Karin Muller’s story in his new book.
It’s entitled “Enchantment”. You will want to read it.
For a copy go to Amazon.com and type in Enchantment.
It’s well worth a few dollars and your time to read it.
More on his book later in my Million Dollar Ideas newsletter.