To some, their long beards and colorful turbans illicit thoughts of Taliban and al-Qaida jihadists bent on destroying the United States.

But members of San Joaquin County's thriving Sikh community say they are Indian, with a religion far different from Islam. Five years after the terrorist attacks of 2001, they still suffer insults as a result of other people's ignorance.

Amrik Singh Dhaliwal, president of the Stockton Sikh Temple, said he does not go out much. Still, three or four times every week, people hurl insults, calling him Osama bin Laden or worse.

"If they drive by, people raise up their middle finger," said Dhaliwal, 62. "They don't understand." [Link]