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Special Day for Australia as nation says sorry
to right the wrongs of the past
Dr Anthony Pun
OAM,
National President, Chinese
Community of Australia
With just
361 words, the Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd said sorry to the
Stolen Generations. These opening words, spoken in the
Federal Parliament this morning, signify the beginning of a healing
process in our nation. We congratulate Mr Kevin Rudd for his
leadership in uniting the nation by taking this reconciliatory and
historical step forward. We also congratulate the
Governor-General and the leader of the Opposition Dr Brendan Nelson
for supporting the apology.
Australians
can now lift their head up nationally and internationally and be
proud that our nation has the courage and conviction to acknowledge
the ill treatment of the Stolen Generations, their descendants and
families.
We are also
heartened that the apology extends to all Indigenous people and we
are particularly moved by the Prime Minister’s statement, “We
apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and
governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss
on these our fellow Australians”.
We resonate
with the PM’s statement that Australia should harness the
determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous to
close the gap in life expectancy, educational achievements and
economic opportunity”.
The last
paragraph in the PM’s statement is indeed profound and as such, can
be incorporated into the live definition of Multiculturalism, where
the future of our nation is soundly based on good mutual
relationships. What makes us proud as Australians is the
inclusiveness of the statement “A future where all Australians,
whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal
opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter
in the history of this great country, Australia.”
Dr Anthony
Pun OAM
National President
Chinese Community of Australia |
