Sandals of Skepticism

When President Obama visited India last year, one place he didn't visit was the Golden Temple, one of India's most popular tourist attractions. The reason? He knew the feet of Americans are shod with the sandals of skepticism.

Last November, when President Barack Obama stopped in India, one of the places he did not visit there was the Golden Temple, one of India's most popular tourist attractions (seen here in the artwork on this page and the PowerPoint slides). In one sense, it seemed like an ideal location for a world leader to make an appearance. Although it's the spiritual center of the Sikh religion, Indians of all faiths revere the Golden Temple. It's a cherished emblem of India's religious diversity, and some other world leaders have visited the site.

But there was a problem. According to Sikh tradition, all who enter the temple must remove their shoes and cover their heads, and it can't be with just a hat or a cap. Men must tie a piece of cloth on their heads because the act of tying has spiritual significance for Sikhs. Most Sikh men wear turbans. For Mr. Obama, the shoe removal wasn't a problem, but wearing anything resembling a turban would likely feed the false but persistent rumors that he is...