Thursday, September 11, 2008 . 8:42 AM

Are we an elitist society? Coming off the article about the Serangoon Gardens Dormitory debate, I cannot help but think so.

Fact: I have voiced my own concerns about housing foreign workers in a residential estate. I have, on occasion, made negative remarks about them despite the contribution they have to Singapore. I think they probably contributed much more than I did... I don't think my shopping has caused any huge impact on local economy.

But reading what others think about these foreign workers, I realized how negatively we think about them. What is it about them that makes us uncomfortable? Have they shown any proof that they could not be trusted to pounce on young women and hurt our children?

Perhaps I haven't been reading the news as much as I should be, but I don't think they have done anything to be shown such widespread mistrust and dislike. Yes, foreign workers have emotional needs, as well as physical needs. Hence the bustling business in Geylang. But I think it is a bit unfair to assume that women would be in danger because of that. At a basic level, they are as human as we are. Though we have our cultural differences, I think, on a very basic level, we're human beings and we have the same sense of right and wrong.

So, are we fearful of them because they look so different and came from a very different background? Are we now The White Man, and them, The Lowly Migrant? If we speak of the Western oppressing us of the yellow skin, so many years ago, aren't we doing the same thing to the foreign workers now?

I ask again, do we really have good cause to doubt their integrities and their sense of honor? Do they not work hard at their jobs? Why do we not accord them some respect? Would we object to a Singaporean construction worker for a neighbor? Would we fear for our safety and ask for security measures against them? If we would not discriminate against 'one of us', then, are we objecting now because foreign workers are not 'one of us'?

As I read others' comments and reasons for not wanting the dorm built in Serangoon Gardens, I feel ashamed that I once harbored such unfair thoughts about them. The anecdote about the foreign worker staring at a resident as she walked by made me feel uncomfortable - not for the girl, but for the foreign worker. In the account, the girl admitted that she thought he meant no harm. If so, why then the complain? If someone else had looked at her, maybe a cute guy, an uncle at the coffee shop, would her reaction be as such? Do we not frequently look at others?

It saddens me that I need to see myself through others before I realize how unwholesome and prejudiced my thoughts are. Even after studying about cultural imperalism of the Western society, how they belittle the Asian identity and blah blah blah... I did not realise how I've, all of us, have stepped into their shoes.

No matter, I will try to have more tolerance for foreign workers. Should they choose to house foreign workers in my residential area, I will not kick up a fuss.

I do think, however, that 1,000 foreign workers in an area of 5,000 is a really high ratio. How about 500 or 700? Other than Serangoon Gardens, there are other areas to house them, Kranji, Yew Tee, Bukit Batok...

Singapore is ours, but they've helped to built it, so shouldn't we play nice and share?