The Security Mentor

If you're one of my American readers, you too felt the need to do something, anything, to respond to the shock and horror of September 11.

I'd like to offer two ideas, one conventional and one quirky. Both involve some work.

Set aside some time today to dust off your tire gauge and check the air in your tires. When you discover that they're underinflated, head to the gas station and fill them up to the pressure listed on the plate on the driver's side door jamb.

That will add several miles per gallon without replacing your vehicle. The money you don't spend on gas is money that doesn't go to "religious" schools that teach bigotry and hate. It's money that doesn't go to allow sick societies to put off reforms.

When you get home from that, read about the election. You get to choose who will command American power for the next four years. That's a huge responsibility which you cannot exercise wisely by trusting campaign ads, Michael Moore, or Fox News. All of those are trying to manipulate your emotions. Hit the library or the bookstore and get facts for yourself. Read Woodward's book. Compare General Franks's book with Richard Clarke's, make up your own mind about who's right. Research what anti-terrorism experts have to say about how the current Administration is doing.

Does that seem dull? Hitting tire gauges and books while soldiers are taking hostile fire? Both are ways of fighting terrorism, using the American strengths of individual responsibility and democracy. If you wait until you can make a dramatic contribution, like running into a collapsing building to save lives, then it's too late.