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CNN Saturday Morning News
An interview with Gregg Softy
Aired October 04, 2003 - 07:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: You know, a lot of bad news come out of Iraq, but every week at this time, we also show you what is going right in that war torn country. Iraqi students began a new school year today.
Our Michael Holmes reports on how people abroad are helping them get off to a good start.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The men and women of 1-1 Calvary Regiment are pretty popular here at Dafaf School in Baghdad. And it's nothing to do with political talk of liberation or Saddam Hussein or democracy. Mainly it's because they come bearing gifts, desperately needed school supplies.
The cynics will point out that the military is very professional when it comes to P.R. events, doing good, but making sure that the cameras are there to record it. This isn't like that. This is because one man saw a need, talked to fellow troops and then sent an e-mail to family and friends.
MAJ. GREGG SOFTY, U.S. ARMY: It's essentially a grassroots movement. The original e-mail said, I asked to things, one, to donate what you can, and, two, tell a friend.
HOLMES: They sure did. And then those friends told their friends. One friend set up a Web site, iraqischools.com, and soon enough Major Softy -- and, yes, he can laugh at his name -- had himself some mail.
SOFTY: I receive probably anywhere from 50 to 80 e-mails a day from people all over the country now, organizations, church groups, schools and it's just word of mouth.
HOLMES: And that word is spreading all over the United States and Germany, where the 1-1 Calvary is based.
(on camera): So far, more than 200 parcels have arrived here, 20 to 30 more every day. Major Softy and his men and women proud that this is not about the army, but rather about regular folk.
SOFTY: The whole idea was that it's an opportunity for people back home to be a part of it here without going through the levels of bureaucracy that are usually tied to everything. So now they can reach out and feel like they're doing something directly. HOLMES (voice-over): Which is why this day there are notebooks from New York, pens from Pennsylvania, glue from Georgia. The return addresses are mapped to show how far this has gone and continues to go -- Arizona; Fair Haven, New Jersey; Baldwin, Kansas.
SOFTY: For what we spend a year to outfit our kids to start school, you could outfit a whole classroom or a whole school full of kids here.
HOLMES: Which is what's happening. More schools are being added to the list being provided for by this unit as more supplies arrive to do the job.
SOFTY: It's our belief that the future here is based on these children. You may not be able to affect the kids that are right now the teenagers, but these kids here are the ones of the future. So we may not see a difference while we're here, but 10 years from now we'll see a difference based on what we do here today.
HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: It truly is a great story to see.
Major Gregg Softy joins us now from Baghdad to talk more about the wave of support surrounding his e-mail campaign to get donations.
Good morning to you.
I know it's not morning there, but thanks very much for being with us, Major.
SOFTY: Thank you.
Thank you very much for having me and good morning to you.
SAVIDGE: How did this whole writing campaign start? I mean what motivated you to send out an e-mail?
SOFTY: It was essentially two things came together in a relatively short period of time. I had a discussion with my wife about getting our kids ready for school back in Germany. It just happened to be the same morning that we'd started visiting the schools and the two ideas kind of clicked and it seemed the obvious thing to do.
SAVIDGE: What are conditions like for these children as they head back into the classrooms? And are they motivated to go back to school?
SOFTY: Oh, very much so. Seeing them the other way during opening ceremonies, or the opening day of school, was just fantastic, both for them and the soldiers that were there and all of us who are trying to help them. Like I said in my original e-mail, to a certain extent these kids are different than ours in the sense that they actually look forward to going to school and the Iraqis put a lot of priority in going to school. And to see them show up despite what they have and still want to go to school is a great thing and it's a powerful thing, to see them want to learn.
SAVIDGE: We hear about so much confrontation, especially with American soldiers. How do the young people respond to you and the other soldiers in uniform there?
SOFTY: Well, that's the other great part about this is when you come bearing gifts, if you will, it automatically breaks down the barriers. And our soldiers are quick to learn that they're no different than we are and they're quick to learn that we are similar to them. And we're able to talk to them and they're able to talk to us, and it's just a great relationship now.
The relationship has changed considerably when we first showed up to now. And there was some skepticism when we first showed up, a little mistrust of us. But now it's high fives and handshakes and hugs from all the kids and the grownups alike. So it's been fantastic, both for them and for our soldiers.
SAVIDGE: I know a lot of people have to be motivated, having seen this story, to want to do something and especially children, because children seem to take this to heart, I know from my own kids. So what can we do? What should people be doing to help you and help the students?
SOFTY: The quick answer would be just to visit the Web site. It has all the instructions there. But it's to send things, donate things. There is nothing that you could send that these kids and these families don't need over here. The Web site lays out, we've kind of broken out into school supplies, we talk hygiene products, we talk sports equipment and just games and toys in general.
So I would ask to visit the Web site and see what we ask and chip in whatever you can. Like I said, it's great for the kids here, it's great for the families and our soldiers are getting a lot out of it, being able to deliver something tangible to the families and to the kids every day.
SAVIDGE: Obviously you're doing this sort of on two levels. I mean you're doing it, in part, because it is your job. But then you're also personally motivated. What has made you want to go the extra mile here?
SOFTY: Essentially I did it for three reasons. The Web site, actually, was not my idea. The original e-mail I sent out inspired the Web site, which was done by four gentlemen which I have yet to meet out of Minneapolis. And they are the ones that actually run the Web site for us and I talk to them by phone once a week. So I have not yet had the privilege or the advantage of meeting them. So they had the Web site, it was actually their idea.
But the original motivation behind the letter was really on three levels. It was to take care of the children, which was the obvious need. They are the recipients. The other thing was for my soldiers. The soldiers, it's frustrating for them to want to help and just not have the means to reach out and help these kids. You rebuild their schools, but you can't provide them the pencils they need to learn.
And then the third was for the families back home, like my family and everybody, our soldiers, our families, they want to help. They want to be a part of this and this is a way that they can reach out directly and without the bureaucracy, without worrying about where their donations go. They know it comes to us. They get a note. Their name is posted on a Web site. They know it's delivered and they know that it goes right to the kids who need it most.
SAVIDGE: I just wanted to know who oversees the curriculum and what is being taught about the role of U.S. soldiers there, the dramatic change in history that these young people are now going to learn in this new school year?
SOFTY: To be honest with you, I really can't comment on the curriculum, because they just started school a couple days ago and we are really not involved in what is taught and what the curriculum is. I know that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SAVIDGE: That's the point I wanted to get at was that you don't -- the military does not enforce or demand a certain curriculum in return for all of this?
SOFTY: No, not at all. That is still left up to them. It's left up to the Ministry of Education. We just provide them the means to go about it.
I will tell you, our next step now is to get into the classrooms on an informal basis, again, in an effort to break down the barriers and just have the kids talk to us. We leave the weapons, we leave the equipment outside and we sit in front them just in our uniforms and let them ask questions, ask whatever they want about America, about growing up, whatever they want to know. And that goes a long way, too, towards breaking down the barriers and gaining that mutual understanding between them and us.
SAVIDGE: It always does.
Major Gregg Softy, thanks very much for your efforts.
We wish you well and good success in the upcoming school year.
Thank you, again.
SOFTY: Thank you very much.
Thank you.
I appreciate your help.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 4, 2003 - 07:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: You know, a lot of bad news come out of Iraq, but every week at this time, we also show you what is going right in that war torn country. Iraqi students began a new school year today.
Our Michael Holmes reports on how people abroad are helping them get off to a good start.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The men and women of 1-1 Calvary Regiment are pretty popular here at Dafaf School in Baghdad. And it's nothing to do with political talk of liberation or Saddam Hussein or democracy. Mainly it's because they come bearing gifts, desperately needed school supplies.
The cynics will point out that the military is very professional when it comes to P.R. events, doing good, but making sure that the cameras are there to record it. This isn't like that. This is because one man saw a need, talked to fellow troops and then sent an e-mail to family and friends.
MAJ. GREGG SOFTY, U.S. ARMY: It's essentially a grassroots movement. The original e-mail said, I asked to things, one, to donate what you can, and, two, tell a friend.
HOLMES: They sure did. And then those friends told their friends. One friend set up a Web site, iraqischools.com, and soon enough Major Softy -- and, yes, he can laugh at his name -- had himself some mail.
SOFTY: I receive probably anywhere from 50 to 80 e-mails a day from people all over the country now, organizations, church groups, schools and it's just word of mouth.
HOLMES: And that word is spreading all over the United States and Germany, where the 1-1 Calvary is based.
(on camera): So far, more than 200 parcels have arrived here, 20 to 30 more every day. Major Softy and his men and women proud that this is not about the army, but rather about regular folk.
SOFTY: The whole idea was that it's an opportunity for people back home to be a part of it here without going through the levels of bureaucracy that are usually tied to everything. So now they can reach out and feel like they're doing something directly. HOLMES (voice-over): Which is why this day there are notebooks from New York, pens from Pennsylvania, glue from Georgia. The return addresses are mapped to show how far this has gone and continues to go -- Arizona; Fair Haven, New Jersey; Baldwin, Kansas.
SOFTY: For what we spend a year to outfit our kids to start school, you could outfit a whole classroom or a whole school full of kids here.
HOLMES: Which is what's happening. More schools are being added to the list being provided for by this unit as more supplies arrive to do the job.
SOFTY: It's our belief that the future here is based on these children. You may not be able to affect the kids that are right now the teenagers, but these kids here are the ones of the future. So we may not see a difference while we're here, but 10 years from now we'll see a difference based on what we do here today.
HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: It truly is a great story to see.
Major Gregg Softy joins us now from Baghdad to talk more about the wave of support surrounding his e-mail campaign to get donations.
Good morning to you.
I know it's not morning there, but thanks very much for being with us, Major.
SOFTY: Thank you.
Thank you very much for having me and good morning to you.
SAVIDGE: How did this whole writing campaign start? I mean what motivated you to send out an e-mail?
SOFTY: It was essentially two things came together in a relatively short period of time. I had a discussion with my wife about getting our kids ready for school back in Germany. It just happened to be the same morning that we'd started visiting the schools and the two ideas kind of clicked and it seemed the obvious thing to do.
SAVIDGE: What are conditions like for these children as they head back into the classrooms? And are they motivated to go back to school?
SOFTY: Oh, very much so. Seeing them the other way during opening ceremonies, or the opening day of school, was just fantastic, both for them and the soldiers that were there and all of us who are trying to help them. Like I said in my original e-mail, to a certain extent these kids are different than ours in the sense that they actually look forward to going to school and the Iraqis put a lot of priority in going to school. And to see them show up despite what they have and still want to go to school is a great thing and it's a powerful thing, to see them want to learn.
SAVIDGE: We hear about so much confrontation, especially with American soldiers. How do the young people respond to you and the other soldiers in uniform there?
SOFTY: Well, that's the other great part about this is when you come bearing gifts, if you will, it automatically breaks down the barriers. And our soldiers are quick to learn that they're no different than we are and they're quick to learn that we are similar to them. And we're able to talk to them and they're able to talk to us, and it's just a great relationship now.
The relationship has changed considerably when we first showed up to now. And there was some skepticism when we first showed up, a little mistrust of us. But now it's high fives and handshakes and hugs from all the kids and the grownups alike. So it's been fantastic, both for them and for our soldiers.
SAVIDGE: I know a lot of people have to be motivated, having seen this story, to want to do something and especially children, because children seem to take this to heart, I know from my own kids. So what can we do? What should people be doing to help you and help the students?
SOFTY: The quick answer would be just to visit the Web site. It has all the instructions there. But it's to send things, donate things. There is nothing that you could send that these kids and these families don't need over here. The Web site lays out, we've kind of broken out into school supplies, we talk hygiene products, we talk sports equipment and just games and toys in general.
So I would ask to visit the Web site and see what we ask and chip in whatever you can. Like I said, it's great for the kids here, it's great for the families and our soldiers are getting a lot out of it, being able to deliver something tangible to the families and to the kids every day.
SAVIDGE: Obviously you're doing this sort of on two levels. I mean you're doing it, in part, because it is your job. But then you're also personally motivated. What has made you want to go the extra mile here?
SOFTY: Essentially I did it for three reasons. The Web site, actually, was not my idea. The original e-mail I sent out inspired the Web site, which was done by four gentlemen which I have yet to meet out of Minneapolis. And they are the ones that actually run the Web site for us and I talk to them by phone once a week. So I have not yet had the privilege or the advantage of meeting them. So they had the Web site, it was actually their idea.
But the original motivation behind the letter was really on three levels. It was to take care of the children, which was the obvious need. They are the recipients. The other thing was for my soldiers. The soldiers, it's frustrating for them to want to help and just not have the means to reach out and help these kids. You rebuild their schools, but you can't provide them the pencils they need to learn.
And then the third was for the families back home, like my family and everybody, our soldiers, our families, they want to help. They want to be a part of this and this is a way that they can reach out directly and without the bureaucracy, without worrying about where their donations go. They know it comes to us. They get a note. Their name is posted on a Web site. They know it's delivered and they know that it goes right to the kids who need it most.
SAVIDGE: I just wanted to know who oversees the curriculum and what is being taught about the role of U.S. soldiers there, the dramatic change in history that these young people are now going to learn in this new school year?
SOFTY: To be honest with you, I really can't comment on the curriculum, because they just started school a couple days ago and we are really not involved in what is taught and what the curriculum is. I know that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SAVIDGE: That's the point I wanted to get at was that you don't -- the military does not enforce or demand a certain curriculum in return for all of this?
SOFTY: No, not at all. That is still left up to them. It's left up to the Ministry of Education. We just provide them the means to go about it.
I will tell you, our next step now is to get into the classrooms on an informal basis, again, in an effort to break down the barriers and just have the kids talk to us. We leave the weapons, we leave the equipment outside and we sit in front them just in our uniforms and let them ask questions, ask whatever they want about America, about growing up, whatever they want to know. And that goes a long way, too, towards breaking down the barriers and gaining that mutual understanding between them and us.
SAVIDGE: It always does.
Major Gregg Softy, thanks very much for your efforts.
We wish you well and good success in the upcoming school year.
Thank you, again.
SOFTY: Thank you very much.
Thank you.
I appreciate your help.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
