Why do people in america stare me?

I feel like such a minority in this country...I am friendly, nice (all my friends know that), but when I walk around the streets of boston, people look at me like I have four eyes. I'm Sikh....I guess in America people can't tell the differance between a Sikh and a Muslim....In America if you wear a turban people ume you are Muslim.Could that be the reason why people stare at me so much? There is nothing I can do...I can't shave because it is against my religion...I don't wear a turban anymore because I am afraid. Why do Americans think they have the right to stare at me like that? I have a life of my own so let me live it please! Thank you