The biggest problem to emerge after the devastating events of last month is the inevitable aftermath of every disaster.

Hoaxes, false alarms and stupidity.

It is expected that people would be extra wary after a disaster. The thought of keeping vigilant changes from an unneeded expense and hassle, to a required part of life.

As bad as it was, the events of 9/11 served to remind America of the truly dangerous world we live in.

People are now more aware of their surroundings. They take note of events happening around them and to people close to them.

The public is now more willing to get involved. Break-ins, violent acts, street crimes… all are being reported more regularly to the police. More and more people are willing to come forward with information and to make a difference in their communities.

Newspapers are seeing a rise circulation from people wanting to be informed.

Gallup polls report increasingly that people are planning to vote in the next round of local and national elections.

All are good and necessary changes that have been needed for a long time.

However, as is the case with every good, there is the inevitable bad.

The New York Police Department has reported a dramatic rise in the number of false alarms and bomb threats called in every day. Before September, the NYPD would deal with 15 to 20 false bomb threats every month.

Now, they are receiving almost double that number every day.

This is overwhelming the resources of an already over-stretched and undermanned department to deal with real emergencies.

Ever since the hijackings, several airline pilots have had to make emergency landings due to rowdy passengers making verbal threats or rushing the cabin.

With the threat of Anthrax so prevalent, people have been mailing letters filled with baby powder or Jell-O mix to celebrities.

Why do people feel the need to make asses of themselves in the wake of such tragedies? Are their lives so pathetic they must seek this negative attention?

There will always be greedy opportunists who attempt to profit at the expense of others in a time of sorrow.

However, must we also add the crimes of terminal stupidity and false terrorist acts to the lexicon of Americana?