Australia racist, backward: Sol Trujillo

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

24 Million should be enough for the gringo to buy himself a set of ear-plugs, to save his sensibilities.

It's odd that a man from the homeland of the KKK, while commenting to reporters fom another land notorious for its problem skin-heads, would decide to accuse a nation he had just made a fortune from, as being racist.

This bitter businessman would be well served to take a good long look, and would be even better served by keeping his mouth shut.

edit(I know I did not refer to Sol as a busuiness man in my reply, that would have implied he possessed some actual business skill.)

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

"Trujillo, who was born in the United States, but has a Mexican heritage, was frequently referred to in the media as one of the "three amigos", referring to him and his two American friends Greg Winn and Phil Burgess who played right-hand roles to him"

I must say "Winn" and "Burgess" really are Mexican names..... how is it racist to call them the three amigos when 1 thats right 1 has mexican heritage... he is american not mexican! Once less wanker american in our country!! Screw you sol!

grantreibelt (New user):

I don't have a problem with anyone from the USA but it has to be said that Sol was crap and he is not a credit to any nationality he would represent. He was crap.

Ash (User):

That's pretty funny. There are so many racists in America, particularly about Mexicans, often demanding deportation, but somehow using Spanish words to refer to a Mexican man, inoffensive ones at that, makes us not only equal but worse then American bigots.

An exasperated adios from me, and good riddance.

Alex C (New user):

This is just all ridiculous. I don't think his comments should be broadcasted at all.

I enjoyed this entry on it at www.sydneyspy.blogspot.com , takes the p*** out of the whole seriousness of it all.

Pauly (User):

is it any more racist than Sol saying "G'day" when he first arrived in Australia?
Poor little rich white boy trying to pretend he's a misfortuned minority, makes him sleep far better in his penthouse

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

So it's racist if we use his lingo, but fine if he uses ours? How far up himself is this guy?!?!

Edit: He really takes the cake when you think about it... Almost every Australian will interact in some way with someone from another background every time they step outside. Yet most Australians will happily interact with no care for the other persons skin colour, clothing or accent (apart from maybe being frustrated because of language barriers).
Seems Sol is the common factor here. And it seems a little racist to call an entire country racists. He hasn't personally met me, so how would he know?

TV Bis (User):

His mentality is the same as the company he worked for:-
Overpriced.
Thinks he is above everyone.
Willing to take your money and couldn’t give a dam about you in the end.
Cry's foul when he couldn’t get his own way.
Thinks everyone owes him for what he hasn't done.
A country which is back in time - behind the rest of the world?
Yes thanks to Sol & Telstra!
Goodbye..........

FindTheWalrus (User):

I tend to agree with Trujilo.....our broadband connections are definitely backwards(blame Telstra with or without Sol) as well as our dumb and obvious journalism(yes, he's Mexican - we get it). Also, K-Rudd is never funny:) Saying "adios" isn't particularly funny/inventive.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting FindTheWalrus:
Also, K-Rudd is never funny:) Saying "adios" isn't particularly funny/inventive.

Yes of course but this post is about the sins of an entirely different bastard.

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting FindTheWalrus:
lso, K-Rudd is never funny:) Saying "adios" isn't particularly funny/inventive.


Maybe it wasn't meant to be funny... The laughter was probably due to being happy he was gone.

rjsquires (User):

Bottom line is:
1. Krudd is arrogant
2. Everybody hates Sol (obviously)
3. "Adios" is NOT Racist!!!

Hemma (User):

Besides the fact that Sol was never ever good at his job, if you look at his comment of Australians being Racists as a separate issue, I'd say, YES, we are a racist country!

Young kids on trains are targeting Indians for a bit of 'Curry Bashing', Cronulla riot... there are a LOT of examples of how racist this country is. If an Australian is in trouble overseas, the government here would intervene immediately, but if a foreigner here is killed, it's just 'Unfortunate', and we're working on it. I bet you any money, that Indian beating case... it'll just be another file in the cabinet, locked away gathering dust.

Not only that, Pauline bloody Hanson..... I CANNOT believe how this country would tolerate with a redneck to the point where she is a celebrity on a certain TV channel. It makes me sick.... it really does.

Some of you will think: Well America has the KKK.... BUT, instead of benchmarking yourselves against other countries, have you thought about YOURSELVES? I've read every single comment here, and nobody's ever questioned whether they are racist or not.

As an immigrant who came to Australia in the 1990s, i've witnessed countless number of cases of racism..... on the playground, at Pubs, in conversations.... Maybe its just that some of the people in this country do not think before they let loose.

Pfft. and those brainless rednecks that say: 'If you don't like it here, just get out.....' well, YOU are an immigrant too! You are on Aboriginal Land, and your forefathers didn't pay rent on land that's theirs.

I'm not standing by Sol for what he's done, and I HATE the fact that he's playing the race card. BUT, Australia is in fact, a racist country.... but some of you (not you the reader, but Australia in general) are just so pasty white, that you will never understand what's it like to be racially discriminated, so, just be happy that you're white this lifetime.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Hemma:
I'd say, YES, we are a racist country!

I'd strongly refute your claim!


Quoting Hemma:
there are a LOT of examples of how racist this country is.

On! There are lots of examples of unacceptable racism by individuals or groups of individuals. Do not dare to hang that on my nation. You could cite as many examples for every nation on earth many of them being implemented by civil and cross border war.


Quoting Hemma:
If an Australian is in trouble overseas, the government here would intervene immediately, but if a foreigner here is killed, it's just 'Unfortunate', and we're working on it.

That is simply rubbish, huge efforts and huge expenditure has been made on many occasions to find, return, heal, support and assist individual of other nations who have come to harm within Australia.


Quoting Hemma:
I bet you any money, that Indian beating case... it'll just be another file in the cabinet, locked away gathering dust.

Like any number of criminal events do. And why is it somehow due more credence because the assumed victim is Indian? Isn't that racist in itself? Would it be less important if the victim was Chinese, Australian or American? If we are taking everything to the Nth degree then your claim is racist.


Quoting Hemma:
Not only that, Pauline bloody Hanson.....

Well sorry you feel that way. But I will defend the fact that our country even gives Mad Women a say! I don't agree with Ms Hanson's ideaology but I defend her right to have a point of view. There is no place in Australia for an regime that intends on deny others a point of view without redress.


Quoting Hemma:
BUT, instead of benchmarking yourselves against other countries, have you thought about YOURSELVES?

Well how about you have a look at some of the countries which you defend! How about you compare the rights of women in the community from here to there? Do you see any caste system in Australia denying opportunity to vast sectors of the population?


Quoting Hemma:
As an immigrant who came to Australia in the 1990s, i've witnessed countless number of cases of racism.....

As a WASP I've experienced the negative side of endless positive discrimination. I've seen countless examples of migrants bringing their battles and prejudices to this country. Is it racist for Australia to wear the cost and violence from recent Tamil and anti-Tamil confrontations in our city streets? Indians, Arabs, Europeans, even Kiwis have been welcomed to integrate into the Australian community.


Quoting Hemma:
Pfft. and those brainless rednecks that say: 'If you don't like it here, just get out.....

Well Pfft all those who choose to bring the politics and dispute of another land to Australia. We don't need Serbs vs Croats at the tennis and soccer from those who are Australian by convenience yet wish to embroil us in some pointless overseas race war.


Quoting Hemma:
well, YOU are an immigrant too

7th generation proud Australian thank you, my ancestors were immigrants not me.


Quoting Hemma:
You are on Aboriginal Land, and your forefathers didn't pay rent on land that's theirs.

I am on Australian Land! I am not responsible for my forefathers? Do you wish to be responsible for yours and for the action of your nation of origin throughout the centuries?


Quoting Hemma:
but some of you (not you the reader, but Australia in general) are just so pasty white, that you will never understand what's it like to be racially discriminated, so, just be happy that you're white this lifetime.

That is possibly the most ignorant statement you could issue? You've played the race card and in the same breath dismissed the discrimination faced by the obese, the slow, those with religious affirmations, Collingwood and Manly Supporters and other with an identifiable hook. Skin color is not a curse in Australia.

You've made a disparaging attack on a tolerant nation, your attack is unwarranted. Sure there are racist individuals in Australia but there are those everywhere. I'd also not that the most blatant racist attitudes within our community are those show by recent migrants.

You are in a tolerant and accepting society that offers opportunity regardless of skin color or country of origin, if along the way you cop some name calling from the lunatic few then I'm sorry, but clearly the compromise is on the whole positive.
Do not dare to point blame at my nation when the comparisons don't support your position!

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Hemma:
there are a LOT of examples of how racist this country is

There are a lot of examples of how tolerant and accepting Australia is.

Absense of a caste system, rights for women, and ethnic and cross border disputes going no further than a 3 game series of football.

Any racism demonstrated by a minority few is not an indictment upon the nation. Name me another nation with a greater ethnic tolerance and acceptance?

Hemma (User):

Quoting Raindog:
There are a lot of examples of how tolerant and accepting Australia is.

There are nice people everywhere in the world. I've met them, and they help you out whichever way they can. I've experienced that... It's fantastic that there are people who have basic courtesy skills you'd expect from a decent person. However, I've also experienced first hand experience in racism here from an early age, and it was not just a one-off, but numerous occasions, and even now. The occasional 'ching chong' grunts, 'go back to your own country, you xxxxx'.... I've had a colleague who was from Germany.... and he's been labelled as a Nazi many times.... You have to be a foreigner to understand what it's like.

It's great that you don't have to experience it, but when you do, the examples of great people goes out the window....

Watch the Southpark episode of 'With Apologies to Jesse Jackson'.... although it puts things in a funny context.... but the message that 'I don't get it' rings very very true.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Hemma:
I've also experienced first hand experience in racism here from an early age, and it was not just a one-off,

I've been rained on many times, as recently as today, does that make Australia a rainy country?


Quoting Hemma:
but when you do, the examples of great people goes out the window..

Why? What happened to balance? A few bad eggs are now somehow the prevailing attitude? What happened to balance?


Quoting Hemma:
Watch the Southpark episode

Pass! I'd rather take my racial clues from something a little more grown up.

As for Mr Trujillo the man is a hypocrite, all his references to Optus as Singapore Peril weren't racially motivated. It seems some of those who call the race card are themselves the worst offenders.

FindTheWalrus (User):

Quoting Raindog:
What happened to balance? A few bad eggs are now somehow the prevailing attitude?

I wouldn't call the Cronulla riots "a few bad eggs" giving us all a bad name. It was a popular "uprising" on both sides - whether you were bashing anglo saxons or lebanese. And the police saying to indians to be less "indian" in order to "help" them on our -safe only if you don't fit the profile- public transport system. Plus, our newspapers through the years drawing Sol with a sombrero on a donkey "stealing" money from hard working citizens of australia......being called a bandit in parliament etc... I mean it's just very easy to make the case for underlying racism in our country. I am not going to debate how racist/backward we are compared to the US(and they(US) are building a wall on the Mexican border and they want mexicans out because they "steal" their jobs etc etc) but i will not stay blind to what was/is happening in our country.

ranting on a forum will not help- but recognizing the problems that we DO have, and consistent communication between communities may help.

....just my worthless opinion

cheers

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting FindTheWalrus:
I wouldn't call the Cronulla riots "a few bad eggs" giving us all a bad name. It was a popular "uprising" on both sides - whether you were bashing anglo saxons or lebanese.

Popular uprising is just a little bit of an exaggeration. Two mindless rabbles of testosterone (and alcohol) charged morons is far from an uprising. The whole sorry incident was universally condemned by the broader community.


Quoting FindTheWalrus:
Sol with a sombrero on a donkey "stealing" money from hard working citizens of australia......being called a bandit in parliament etc... I mean it's just very easy to make the case for underlying racism in our country.

And what of all the cartoon portrayals of Howard (and now Rudd) they must be racist too? For $30 odd million for a bodge job Sol is entitled to a good dose of public and media ribbing. If he was WASP they'd have made fun of his more than striking resemblance to Super Mario.

It's not racism lads, get over it! Oh and please spell Australia only with a capital "A", we're very proud of our wide brown land.

Hemma (User):

RD, don't take this as an insult, as its never meant to be one. But, its ok to not understand what it means, let alone feels, when someone does not accept you because of the colour of your skin.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Hemma:
RD, don't take this as an insult, as its never meant to be one.

I did not see any personal insult, the only thing I found offensive was the sweeping generalisation that attempts to declare my nation as racist.

Quoting Hemma:
But, its ok to not understand what it means, let alone feels, when someone does not accept you because of the colour of your skin.

Don't assume people do not understand, those shunned for their weight, their accent, their IQ know exactly what it feels like to be not accepted.

Australia is a very accepting nation, to suggest any different is as a nonsense and an insult to those that have allowed our culture and wealth to be shared for generations!

TV Bis (User):

Quoting Hemma:
It's great that you don't have to experience it, but when you do, the examples of great people goes out the window....

Racism is in all countries my friend. It's one of humankind’s failures to except others who appear different in some regards. I do not believe anyone who says that they have not thought of someone in a racist way. It's impossible because as I said before it's in our genetic makeup.
Even the fact that school bullying exists is a form of racism - one person thinking of another in a superior way. Have you not got upset at another when driving a car and thought racist comments?? Don't say no because I think you would have at some stage. One cannot deny different races throughout the world and one cannot deny the feeling of territorial rights.
Racism is not acceptable and should be frowned upon but I do not hold any country or their peoples at fault for what a minority may think.
Go to Russia or France and you will see what racism is all about!

 x  (User):

Well Sol, let me just say, adios

Aghori (New user):

the country is not racist, its just that all the whites have a gene problem.. first they have the skin problem which have effected there brains and second.. especially in Australia it is there genes. I would like to remind you that Australia was once a send off island for criminals and crooks, now these very whites were basically the first settlers and as evident from the recent attacks, have left certain criminal genes in there generations.

Bicycle (New user):

@Aghori:
I disagree with just about everything you just said. But my epic powers of deduction have deduced that you are a Troll.

I'm still offended that you think it's funny to write utter fabrications and get people fired up.

Bicycle (New user):

If we can learn anything from this article, it only takes one to stuff it up for everyone. Like the kid in class who threw scissors into the fan on the hottest day of the year. We all end up dealing with the detention/fans being off - or in this case, the Dramatic over dramatisation of the media dramatising one persons' point of view.

Fear breeds Hate. Hate breeds Racism. Discuss:

Sean Smith (New user):

Hi,

Sol made his own bed, sadly. Let's take stock here. USA has and hosts about 3 world series where only USA are involved. That says something about the basic mentality of US citizens. The world starts and ends between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Similarly Sol thought the telecommunications landscape in Australia started with the letter T and ended with the letter A.

And so he did ride into town and tried to bully everyone - regulators, politicians, competitors, customers. Regardless that he might have been a caricaturists dream, with that Spaghetti western moustache, his actions really lead to the public persona that was portrayed.

Of his tenure, lets break that down to. His brief was achieved very successfully - and the uproar regarding severance pay (with the bonuses) happened because people did not realise what his metrics were for his salary. I can assure you it had nothing to do with shareholder returns, shareholder wealth, increased revenues or EBITDA. He was brought in because of his reputation for disrupting and spoiling.

He is a champion exponent of putting insular policies into practice to ward off further re-regulation and access to publicly bestowed - and now Telstra owned - infrastructure.
Look at the financial performance metric during Sol's tenure and it become self-evident as to why he was employed, the outcome of his tactics (i.e. anamosity) and extraordinary severance pay - given the face value metrics.

He was hired to be the bad boy riding into town to do exactly what I have stated above specifically by the Telstra Board. Oh and the truth behind his early departure was soley (pardon the pun) to avoid our tax law impacts on him as a US ex pat working in Australia. He had about $11 million reasons to leave early. Perhaps these facts should be researched so people understood the full story. And perhaps Trujillo should do his homework and acknowledge that each country has a different culture of doing business and he failed to grasp our culture in many ways - and felt offended as a result. It could be argued that Americans are backward in doing business because there is little trust and faith in relationships in deference to terms of a contract - and the litigeous pursuit thereafter. Which is more advanced - open trust in forging business partnerships or reliance on litigation to resolve an impasse??

Adios and Amigo are part of our own humourous, affectionate vernacular. They are rarely used in a derogatory way - maybe because Sol had been so abrasive, the rub went the other way.

The important thing is that Sol has moved on - and now so can the Australian telecommunications industry as a whole - which sadly to Sol's view of the world at the time, is more than just Telstra.

Sean Smith
QLD

craigles35 (New user):

we are not racist.

craigles35 (New user):

australia is not a racist country,people from other countries are only saying it because they dont get our humor,so leave australia alone look at some other countries and see what they do and how they treat people before you start accusing australia who has always been able to speak freely about anything,if we are that racist how come we let so many people from other countries into our country to start a new and better life.if anyone is racist its the person calling australia racist.