Since September 11, I have been getting a lot of email asking how we should respond. Many want to help, want to support America, but what can I, as an ordinary citizen, do?

The obvious things have been done. As Americans, we have given blood; we have prayed for the victims, their families, and everyone else involved; and we have demonstrated our support of our leaders and soldiers. "I put a flag on my car, but what else can I do?"

So I thought about it, and these are my suggestions.

First, there are thousands hurting because the economy is staggering from this blow. Thus, you can help by going out and buying something, anything. It could be going out to dinner with your family and friends or purchasing that new appliance that you are saving for. There are 270+ million people in America. If everyone goes out and spends just $10 each that puts $2.7 BILLION dollars into the economy.  Have some faith in America, don't hoard your money, but put it to work so others can work.

Second, don't let terrorists dictate your actions. Even if you are afraid continue to travel in planes (which no one should be), go to the market. Take your family to a nearby tourist spot and enjoy it. Every tourist locale is reeling from cowardly Americans postponing their holidays. Be strong and go out. We have soldiers who are going to places where they maybe shot at; the least we can do is to show our bravery and solidarity by going to the beach.

Third, send out some personal letters and cards to your friends and loved ones. Everyone around the world was stunned or hurt by these events; everyone would love to hear someone out there cares. If this event has done anything, it should have made each of us understand how precious and short life can be. You should take this opportunity to touch those you know and Thank God for each of them. In addition, the Postal Service is hurting financially, too; and additional mail will help them also.

Fourth, realize that there are many more good people than bad and part of being American is expecting the best of everyone. Part of this is a celebration of the American community-building, a particularly American celebration of the Halloween. Remember how, as a child going to strange neighborhoods and meeting new people, you felt part of a community of people who celebrated its children by decorating their homes and giving you and your friends treats. Why are you letting the terrorists deny your children this opportunity? Go with your children, screen their candy, but let them meet new people. If you feel more comfortable, take your children to a Halloween celebration at the mall, a Halloween party, or to a church-sponsored event. But remember that the cry "Better safe than sorry!" can make you hostage of the terrorists in your own home. Be calm and apply reason to what you choose to do and what you choose to avoid.

Finally, don't fraternize "terrorist" journalism. I am upset by what the terrorists did on September 11, but I am really irritated at those who make profit from it. Irresponsible journalism in this country has to be stopped. For those who put "getting it first" over "getting it right," those who sell misinformation and fear to get ratings, those who aid and abet the terrorists by spreading fear without real information, for all those who are prefer to simply create and repeat baseless speculation, it is time for them to loose their jobs. During that horrid day, irresponsible journalists, who did not take time to verify their stories, fanned panic. They filled their airtime with wild speculation about things that might possibly be done by "experts" who have never done it themselves. They interviewed other journalists, passed on unverified gossip, and dwelt on negatives.

Why did the New York Times have to have someone jumping from high on one of the World Trade Center towers on their front page? Instead of picturing hero firemen, why did the news media report other nonexistent bombings? Here in Washington, DC, the air was filled with unsupported speculation that a car bomb might have placed by the State Department Building, causing one of our main arteries to be closed and adding immensely to the difficulty of getting out of the city center. (I know what confusion this unsupported reporting caused; Glenn and Holly had to go down into the District to pick up Alex.)

It seems that many within the "news media" should not be called journalists at all. They are not the hardworking reporters of the movies and television, but rather lazy and unprofessional hacks. They do not report "news", because finding out what the facts are would mean they would have to get out of their chairs and work. Instead they report on their own thoughts and speculations, or the thoughts and speculations their friends' because it is easier. They gather video of 50 Palestinians dancing in front of the camera and say all Palestinians are happy that America is bombed. They report 1000 people rioting from a country, but not about the hundreds of thousands of people that are not. They expect people to tell them what is happening, instead of finding out themselves what is happening. They announced, on September 11, to the world where the President was, without a thought to his safety. So exercise your right and send a letter to the news source you use. Demand that they do real investigative reporting with real work. If they do not respond, maybe you could help them understand the need by sending all their sponsors a request to stop paying them until they do their job and provide you with information you can use, not fear mongering, terrorist abetting, and gossip.

Thanks for your time.

Elder Linda
elderlinda@aol.com

Click here to go to the
Response to the Terrorist Attacks webpage
on my husband's website.