Since the atrocities committed on September 11th, our Government implemented many new security measures to try and make us feel safe following such a devastating attack on American soil. One of those new security measures was to create a new Federal agency, headed by Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, called The Department of Homeland Security. As part of the Department's new security measures, a color-coded terror alert system was created to inform the American people of the threat level with regard to attacks on American soil.

Since the implementation of the terror alert system, the country has maintained a "Yellow," or "Elevated/Significant" risk of terrorist attacks. However, yesterday, Secretary Ridge, based on what he called, "a substantial increase in the volume of threat-related intelligence reports," has increased the nation's threat level to "Orange" or "High" risk of terrorist attacks.

At the press conference, Secretary Ridge informed us that our Military Intelligence has received communications from Al-Qaeda stating that they not only wish to carry out new attacks on our homeland using aircraft as weapons - but, as Secretary Ridge put it, their desire to carry out these new attacks is, "greater now than at any point since September 11th" and that these attacks "will either rival or exceed the attacks that occurred in New York, in the Pentagon, and in the fields of Pennsylvania nearly two years ago."

As soon as the threat level was raised, the media - God Bless them - took the very juicy bait and have spent the last twenty-four hours trying their best to scare the hell out of us with possible terror scenarios and breaches they have discovered in our homeland security. But while the raising of the terror alert did give the media an early Christmas present, it also got me thinking about our vulnerability - and the real "attacks" that Al-Qaeda are carrying out on us on an almost daily basis.

As for our vulnerability, not to add to the media's excellent job of terrifying us, but there is no way to be one hundred percent certain that another attack could not take place on American soil. No matter how much we try to protect ourselves - it is always possible that the terrorists could find a hole in our security and - God Forbid - perpetrate another attack on our Homeland. However, I refuse to dwell on the possibility of another attack or change any plans I have made or will make in case there is another attack, because that is precisely what the terrorists want us to do. I will, however, prepare a "go bag" containing essential survival materials, as well as have an escape plan for both my home and my office. Remember - I do live in New York City.

As for the "real" attacks Al-Qaeda are committing against us almost every day - they are working perfectly. The "attacks" I speak of are wielded with only one weapon - fear. Granted, the attacks on 9/11 crippled us and caused us enormous emotional, physical, mental and financial strain. But since that day, all Al-Qaeda has to do is send out a communiqué that they are planning to attack America - and the U.S. Government has no choice but to spend millions of dollars heightening security measures and beefing up police presence at all major U.S. airports and landmarks. That is how Al-Qaeda is killing us. By simply "threatening" to attack us a few times a month, they are forcing us to spend millions upon millions of dollars in heightened security measures - and each time they do - our economy suffers. Granted, we have no choice but to step up security just in case - God forbid - one of their threats are real - but don't think Al-Qaeda doesn't know and love the fact that they are, in a way, in control of our Homeland security. By playing this sick game of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," they are, in a sense, using our own fears against us and making us go into "panic" mode and spending millions of dollars to protect ourselves whenever they choose to.

Unfortunately, the days before September 11th are long gone and the immunity Americans felt with regard to terrorism are no more. We have no choice but to live with the fact that there are still those individuals out there who want to destroy us - and that one day it is quite possible that another attack could be perpetrated against us on our own Homeland. But we should not cater to these monsters and spend the rest of our lives in our homes in hiding from a nameless fear. Instead, we should all show these terrorists that they can not win by keeping the holiday plans that we have already made - and continuing to go about our lives regardless of their idol threats.

Whatever your plans are this "Orange Christmas" - enjoy them, but be strong, be vigilant - and be careful.