Terrorism has created terror, and terrified, irrational people will give up anything to feel protected. This is true even if it means losing the very freedoms the terrorists are threatening. How many fundamental American rights and values will we violate in order to preserve fundamental American rights and values?

Expressing our views on these problems with each other can be healthy, letting out our frustrations and finding others who support our viewpoints. But how much does this accomplish outside of your group of friends and your own head? What can you do?

If you really want to do something, express how you feel to someone in power. If you don't know how to contact your representatives, you can go to First Gov at http://www.firstgov.gov/index.html. Look to the left and you'll see Contact Your Government. The House of Representatives and Senate are under By Agency (or you can go directly to the Representatives listing at http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html and the Senate listing at http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm) Or check your phone book or newspaper for government listings.

Write a letter/phone/e-mail. Thank those who are supporting what you believe in; tell those you disagree with that you disagree. If you don't know their record, tell them what you believe. Some estimates say a single letter is considered equal to 500 to 1,000 people because so few people write.

If you believe corporations largely run the country and buy the politicians, contact businesses that have acted on these issues (for example, businesses that sponsor a television program that allows free discussions, or by contrast ones who have pulled sponsorship from such a program). And you can financially support a non-profit organization that you believe is working to preserve American Freedom in this time of paranoia.

I used to wonder how people could have done nothing when innocent Japanese-Americans were ripped from their homes and businesses during World War II, or when innocent people had their careers destroyed during the Communist "Witch Hunts" of the 1950s. Now I think I know the answer: many people like us complained to each other and did little else while the masses, while perhaps well-intentioned, were blinded by fear and ignorance. Don't wait for your grandchildren to ask you why you watched fundamental American freedoms being stripped away and did nothing.