code: public static String coerceToString(Object pValue,
                                          Logger pLogger)
              throws ELException {
          if (pValue == null) {
              return "";
          } else if (pValue instanceof String) {
              return (String) pValue;
          } else {
              try {
                  return pValue.toString();
              }
              catch (Exception exc) {
                  if (pLogger.isLoggingError()) {
                      pLogger.logError(Constants.TOSTRING_EXCEPTION,
                              exc,
                              pValue.getClass().getName());
                  }
                  return "";
              }
          }
      }
docs: Coerces the specified value to a String