Obama's widely hearalded mention of Hinduism

In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama referred to Christians, Muslims, Jews, and non-believers. As well as Hindus, a mention that was front-page news in the Times of India. Emblematic of a peacemaker?

Vamsee Juluri, Professor of Media Studies, University of San Francisco, wrote:

I think that the global dream that is America has found in Obama the sort of popular 21st century religious sensibility that has been forming unnoticed by the dogmas of fundamentalists and some of their more dogmatic opponents too. A few months ago, this picture appeared of the charms Obama carried in his pocket. One of the figurines he had was of Hanuman, a Hindu God, although this version was probably from Obama's days in Indonesia. The Indian press was happy, but the best interpretation came from right here, a Bay Area writer who said that what Hanuman implies is not just whether we literally believe in "monkey gods" but really the ideal of service. That is the sort of inspiration perhaps we could draw from religion, ours and others; because, like everything else, our beliefs too are being tossed together and tossed around with globalization. What better place than America for everyone to see the best in everyone else, and in their own selves too. Then, and I hope we can, the only "clash of civilizations" we will hear ever about again will be nothing more than the jingle-jangle of all the world's religious trinkets in our great President Barack Obama's pockets.

The rest is here.