I sort of agree with buckey. I'm not sure the government is issuing any usefull information when it simply raises the color. The terrorists want us to be terrified -- and that is exactly the result of this useless color coded warning system. We're supposed to be "vigilant" (of exactly WHAT?). I don't think all the vigilance in the world can help you avoid being a terroist target. I suspect the people in Israel are plenty vigilant - they still can't avoid having victims of suicide bombers. If the government had specific information, and a specific recommendation (don't fly, don't take Amtrak, don't cross the such and such bridge etc) that might be helpful. But otherwise we are just helplessly parlayzed. It's ridiculus. If I had any money at the moment I'd go to NYC in a heartbeat.

But Chicken Little and the Little Boy who Cried Wolf were making stuff up... The threat level is based on various information. It's hard to tell what the real threat is but we are notified so we will be a little more suspicious of our surroundings.
It is our duty as Americans to take these warnings seriously.
Some innocent bystander is going to have a gut feeling something isn't right about someone they see... and that someone will be the someone who is planning or perpetrates the next attack.
Hopefully this intuition will help save lives.

We telephoned friends &relatives in the city to see how theyre doing. They say they are staying calm despite the news. Didnt hear any speechify about fear, just said they're worried.

NO--we're NOT helpless! All it takes is for us all to keep an eye our for anything a little offbeat or out of the ordinary and then report it. I remember reading a piece by Peggy Noonan shortly after 9/11. Wish I could remember the specifics but she mentioned seeing a man (who fit the stereotypical terrorist demographic) videotaping St. Patrick's cathedral the summer of 2001. Evidently he stood there alone for at least a half hour videotaping it from all angles. At the time she thought it was strange--strange enough to stay around and watch him but then didn't do anything about it--something she later regretted. But before 9/11, who knew? My point is--the government is not and should not be our daddy who will protect us while we go about our business, oblivious to the real world. It's our nation, too, and it's up to us to help protect it. We don't need to get nutty about the whole thing--just pay attention and report anything that seems 'off' while living our lives. I certainly don't want to give terrorists the impression that we're 'helplessly paralyzed.' As a nation we're better than that.

well speaking of being light, I think Ridge's staff must be on here, with all the slogans flying about.

Yeah, but how do you report everything you see Middle Eastern people do that might seem "out of the ordinary" - I mean, taking photos? Who are you going to call about that? The police? And talk about losing freedoms.

Weenie,
Come on--let's get real here. What freedoms are you talking about that we're losing? Sorry if you're offended about what I said (actually I'm not sorry because I meant every word). I am NOT prejudiced and I'm not advocating racial profiling--don't even go there. What I'm saying is to just use common sense when you see something strange. Have YOU ever stood in front of a building(alone) for a half hour just...videotaping? THAT'S STRANGE and yes, in 2003 you do tell the police. I've had FOX news on this morning and have heard at least two police chiefs of major cities say that no tip is too small or too strange to phone in. And Jennifer, I'm not on Tom Ridge's staff but I earn my living by doing Marketing/PR and tend to talk and write in soundbites--it's a curse! Agh, stop me before I soundbite again.

I've often wondered that when the terrorists see that the alert level has been raised do they say, gee, let's wait until it goes back down, and then we'll do something.

When the terrorist threat rises,racial profiling is a GOOD thing and it will save lives. Had the government had the freedom to profile,9/11 may not happened. Muslims with ties to Al-Queda should not learn to just Take-off in planes.

we were planning to fly to michigan this weekend and frankly we were more worried about our 2-year-old catching the flug bug from other travelers! (he got a stomach bug the night before we were to leave so we didn't go after all).
my advice, don't let them win by changing your travel plans. i truly believe your destiny was written when you were born. the day you'll die is already set (as my hubby will exclaim "you are WEIRD!"
it's so easy for all of us to rip the govt. or the media, but we'd be pissed off if they didn't tell us anything and something did happen. all the people who complain about the color-coded alert system, do you have a better suggestion? i don't like some of the things our govt. has done since 9/11, but i admit they have done a tremendous job at stopping any subsequent attacks..and you know those terrorists have tried and will keep on trying to do something on the scale of 9/11 if not worst.
so, enjoy your holidays while keeping an eye out on strange behavior.