In that sense, today is a great day for humanity as one of the world's most racist nations (at one time) has progressed to a stage where a majority of them are able to practise tolerance, if not understanding and acceptance that there is only one race - the human race.

But on this day let us not forget that racism still exists as with those people who planned to kill 88 African Americans before killing him. And looking closer to home, let us not forget the Serangoon Gardens residents and others like them who conveniently overlook what the foreign workers have done for us and want to isolate them, even to the extent of proposing offshore island housing just for them.

Yes, admittedly I wouldn't want a dorm for foreign workers in my estate either for fear of the disturbance to the peace brought by the bad habits of some of them, but the solution should come from education and enforcement rather than segregation. And most certainly not by asking for a road to their dorm from the expressway so that the current road need not be shared with them and asking for a row of trees to block their sight when that failed.

So as we celebrate the progress that the Americans have made and hope that Obama can lead the States and the world out of this economic problem, let us reflect on where we stand as we pledge to be one united people, regardless of race, language or religion.