How do you see it?

I had a call from a one of my old work colleagues the other day. It was quite out of the blue but I was asked if I'd speak to someone from the Anti-discrimination commission about how he was treated at his last job. I said yes naively wondering what they were investigating. I was quite amazed to find out as you can imagine, that they were actually investigating a clam from this colleague regarding different treatment due to race. It was even more shocking as I thought he understood the real reason.

Before I go on though I should explain. This story is all about bush travel. My former colleague wanted to go out bush more than he did. It's true that among all the people in the office he got to go out the least, but did occasionally (very occasionally) get to go out. The reason that he wasn't allowed to go out as much as he would have liked was more to do with his attitude than race. The guy in question is quite black and white when it comes to doing his job. This is an asset is some ways but not in others. When someone goes out into the bush it is all about building a strong working relationship with the people out there. When he went out to a community I heard that he was very forceful and unmoving when it came to his job. Nothing happens quickly in the bush and you can't go out and treat them the same way as you would for the people in town, you have to work with them.

That's why when I spoke to the person from the anti-discrimination commission I told them exactly that. By old boss never in the 3 years I was out there showed any racism to him or anyone in the office. It was the bosses job to make that call whether it is a popular one or not. It was her job to make the call that was right and for the good of the whole program. I think she made the right call. That's why I could in no way shape or form support a claim of racism against my former boss. It just didn't happen.

I'm also amazed that my former colleague automatically jumped to the conclusion that it was because of his origins and not because of his conduct. Maybe he knew, maybe he didn't, maybe he knew the reason but didn't believe it could be true. I just don't know. Either way the claim of racism, in my opinion was not even remotely true.