Open door.

Goretti Nguyen has worked in the retail industry and is one of the organizers of Australian-Vietnamese Youth Today:

Australia--the `lucky' country--was my parents' dream. I was born in Vietnam. I am Australian.

As a child, I pictured the shores of Australia not only as white sands and blue surf, but even more as an `open door'. This island-continent opened its arms to those who wanted to call it `home' and provided for them as it would for its own people. We all shared the land, worked to enrich it and enjoyed its beauty. I remember generous neighbours, caring teachers, the kindness of strangers, harmonious co-existence and trust.

But `tolerance', the buzz word of the Nineties, must have replaced `acceptance'. Now there are waves of a different kind. People who differ in appearance, speech and traditions find themselves being victimized. How did our ethnic diversity become an issue which hi-jacked our emotions, creating this sense of crisis?

Growing up, I was aware that some had more than others. My parents affirmed that there were plenty of jobs, that real opportunities were within reach if we aimed high. Build your dream and be happy.

True, many living on this land mass do not have plenty. Youth unemployment is breeding a sense of worthlessness and despair, creating troublesome lifestyles. It is soul-destructive.

The essence of what we all look for is to feel wanted. Let's make it that way. This is my dream for this lucky country.