People get tired of talking about American exceptionalism, but I think this is an extraordinary thing about the United States, that we are a nation of immigrants, first of all, that is built upon a pluralistic society of native people that were here to begin with. The issue of diversity is really with us from the beginning.

The issue of "who we are" has been an ongoing one. It's part of the ongoing identity crisis of America.

What people see in the news are places where things have not going so well.

Some of my best friends are Hindu or Buddhist or Sikh, my students as well. This is the sea in which I swim.

If you went to the headwaters of most rivers of the United States, you'd have a wonderful naturalistic hike or trek, but you wouldn't find a shrine there. At the headwaters of the rivers of India, they are pilgrimage places.

Pluralism isn't just diversity; it's something we create out of this diversity.

Be prepared for changes.