I had intended to abstain in this election, but at the last minute sent in my absentee ballot for George Bush -- again, fueled for reasons other than the Security issue.

This board is not the proper forum for us to discuss all those other issues and even if it were, I truly doubt that at this point one of us could change another's mind about for whom to vote.

Over the past year or so, I have contacted a number of personal friends in the press (from my years as a journalist) and discussed the whole Security question with them. In a few cases -- admittedly the minority -- my letters prompted them to write columns and editorials which expressed my point of view.

Getting the message to the general public (via the press, internet, or just speaking with your acquaintances) is the path that I suggest opponents take. If they are successful, in four years we can be arguing about which of the two presidential candidates who support our position is the better one.