I am positive that many of you are as frustrated as I when you watch the news, listen to your politicians, or attempt to protest against inaction and injustice and incompetence. Over the past several years I have tried

It involves money, your money and mine. And - surprise - I'm not asking you to send any.

calling, writing, and e-mailing politicians or bureaucrats on issues that I am passionate about.

My list includes the inaction and incompetence of the US government during Hurricane Katrina, freeing Jonathan Pollard, sending our tax dollars to terrorists in Gaza or eastern Israel, using United States Army troops to train a terrorist army in Jericho, among others. I have contacted the White House, my congressman and senators, Gen. Keith Dayton, and our Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

As you would expect, no one responded, with the exception of a single congressman. The letter was polite, agreeable, and obviously written by some staffer who is instructed to agree with everyone and word-craft a suitable, placating reply.

This last year, I've enjoyed responding to the Israeli news articles, especially those with such perfect targets for criticism and ridicule as Jimmy Carter and George Mitchell. Occasionally, my comments will upset somebody and the really insensitive ones will resort to name-calling. However, it is nice to know that a person is actually reading a comment; whereas, the President, the Congress, and their entrenched bureaucrats do not have time to read mail from citizens. They are too busy picking out the best tie for a photo op, a la Michael Brown of FEMA. (Perhaps you recall that Mr. Brown was too busy dressing to attend to business while New Orleans was drowning.)

But now I believe I've stumbled upon a method to get their attention and perhaps get some action. It involves money, your money and mine. And - surprise - I'm not asking you to send any.

Like you, I send money on a regular basis to the government, county government, state government and federal government. Not a single one of the people whose salary I help to pay cares what I think about anything. Is it the same with you?

During Hurricane Katrina, I sent a nice donation to the American Red Cross, said a prayer that some of it would help someone who was really in need, and then forgot about it.

Last week, I was reading about Gilad Shalit again and wishing there was something I could do to help. I even went so far as to try to locate an e-mail address for the Red Cross so I could complain that they are not doing enough to get Gilad released. I couldn't find a website that would accept comments without sending money.

The next day's mail brought the answer. It was a solicitation card from the Red Cross. I've gotten them before, but this was different. It was a very nice handwritten card. It said, "Dear Jean, Repeating your generous gift would be very helpful. D----".

Yes, I thought, it probably would. But then, maybe it would be even more helpful if I didn't send anything. And even better, if a lot of people didn't send any money that would be way more helpful. Think about it; we could be really, really helpful by not sending any money.

So that's what I did, or didn't. I didn't send any money. Instead, I sent a nice handwritten note to the American Red Cross. It said something like this:

Dear D----,

I would certainly be happy to repeat my gift, if you can do the following for me. Explain to me how the International Red Cross has let a bunch of third-rate terrorists stonewall it for almost three years about Gilad Shalit. I do not care if this is the American Red Cross and that is the International Red Cross. Either way, if the Red Cross will obtain freedom for Gilad Shalit by the end of this month, I will happily send a donation.

Jean

I certainly am not advocating that we should stop giving tzedakah or charity. I am suggesting that the Red Cross

Explain to me how the International Red Cross has let a bunch of third-rate terrorists stonewall it for almost three years.

may work a little harder to secure the safe return of Gilad Shalit to his family if the Red Cross is in danger of losing dollars. So please continue to give as you would, but not to the Red Cross or any of its affiliates.

If you think that I am being unreasonable, then a final note please. Imagine, if you would, that Israel was holding a fictional prisoner in such a manner as Shalit is held and not allowing visits by the Red Cross. The Red Cross would be leading the charge in attacking Israel in every forum available.

There would be a Red Cross spokesman on every nightly news show; there would be constant condemnation in the UN; and the US State Department would send a well-known public figure to Israel to harass and bully the Prime Minister, and demand a meeting with this fictional prisoner. The liberal left would even enlist little schoolchildren to protest against Israel. (You know I'm right.)