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After the Woolwich attack the issue of backlash against Sikhs comes up. We often hear the excuse that it is because they think we are Muslims, they don't know who Sikhs are etc etc. I think it is actually deep seated racism and hate against anyone who wears external religious symbols and is of Asian appearance. Normally it is politically incorrect to be racist, but when terror incidents occur it gives people an excuse and suddenly becomes acceptable; it gets the chance to come out. Those of you that wear dastaar and have a beard know how much racism we have suffered since 9/11. How many of you haven't had dirty looks, people laughing at you as you go by, someone calling you 'Bin Laden' ? Is this really a case of mistaken identity or is it a new form of racism directed at Muslims and any ethnic minority that wear outwards religious symbols ? Ask Singhs who go on the tube to work and get dirty looks........do educated, professional Londoners going to their workplace in Central London not know who Sikhs are ?????....come on guys, wake up ! I myself have experienced this and heard from other Singhs that even if you tell them you are not a Muslim and are a Sikh, they don't care. If it were genuine mistaken identity you would at least get an apology. The offenders in the Woolwich attack were black converts to Islam. Have you heard of any attacks against black people ? Surely these 'angry' people would have mistakenly identified black people as militant Islamists, but there are two reasons: 1) After all the racist abuse black people have suffered in this country, it is too politically incorrect to be racist to them. 2) Black people are known to be aggressive, strong and would not tolerate racism today. (and rightly so) Also, orthodox Jews have long beards and head covering, surely these 'angry' people would have mistaken a Jew as a Muslim convert. They haven't studied RE so they don't know the difference between a Jew and a Muslim, right ? The above points prove that it is a very selective anger that comes from these racists and they understand who's who when they want to. Previously racism was against Irish, blacks and asians, now it is the turn of Muslims and Asians wearing head covering or with long beards (ie. Sikhs). Note: to state the obvious, I am not saying that blacks and Jews should be attacked, I am using it as an example to prove that attacks on Sikhs (according to the logic and reason that is normally given) are racism and not a case of mistaken identity.