ABSTRACT
“Mr. President,” the letter began, “why do you exclude us from your prayers?” Written by the Hindu International Council Against Defamation (HICAD) in September 2001, the missive bemoaned that in his post-9/11 public prayers, George W. Bush publicly recognized only three religious traditions in the country: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The letter enumerated ways Hindus benefited the United States: low divorce rates, high educational achievement, homeownership. When the president addressed the almighty, he should include such model citizens in his supplications. 1
