To say that the world has dramatically changed since 9/11 is an understatement. More than 3,000 people died that morning, as did America's sense of security: a feeling that "those things never happen here."

Just look at some of the events that have taken place since 9/11:

• Homeland security is a top (and controversial) issue as our government debates how best to reorganize to deal with the threat of terrorism.
• We suffered our first biological attack (anthrax), which shut down various government buildings and killed several people.
• National landmarks, bridges, banks, nuclear power plants, skyscrapers, power grids, and other important places are on a heightened state of alert.
• People who live within a certain radius of nuclear power plants are receiving potassium iodide to protect them from radiation should an attack take place.
• The government is considering vaccinating the entire population against smallpox.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda group and the terrorist network this group is trying to build, advocates the destruction of the United States, which he sees as the largest obstacle to obtaining al Qaeda's goals. In February 1998, bin Laden announced the creation of a new alliance of terrorist organizations called the "World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders," and declared its intention to attack Americans and our allies, including civilians, anywhere in the world. This means that America and its allies are his enemies, they have declared war on us and his followers have been called upon to eliminate us. Understand this fact clearly, certain Islamic fundamentalists have declared war on us and whether you like it or not, you are a target.

Will there be another attack? Most experts believe it's not a question of if, but when. For that reason, we cannot be lulled into complacency because there hasn't been another attack since 9/11. Our enemy is extremely patient.

Since the battleground has moved to our shores, we need to know what we can do to protect our family, our community, and our country. Part of our own pre-9/11 vulnerability was the fact that we believed it would never happen here because we didn't fully understand the terrorists or their motivations. While few of us today feel we have the power to change events, individual involvement can affect the outcome of this conflict. We all have a part to play, no matter how small it may ultimately be. You may not be able to enlist in the armed forces or hunt for bin Laden, but you can join the political process, assist in your community disaster-recovery efforts, and protect your family.

The federal government has repeatedly asked us to go about our normal lives but be "vigilant." The level of this vigilance will be guided by a color-coded warning system. But what does that mean? Are we supposed to look for Middle Eastern men wearing trench coats during summer? Are we to refuse to fly on an airplane where women wearing burkas are on board? Are we to spy on our neighbors who read books about Islam?