I am a New Yorker by choice. I was born in Michigan, and raised in suburban Philadelphia. After I graduated from college in the early 1980s I got to New York City and have made it my home (with a short break for graduate school) ever since.

My wife and I live in lower Manhattan about a mile from Ground Zero. The events of 11 September 2001 brought to my attention the remarkable opportunity of calling the nation together and asking each adult to provide his or her service to the nation. I am sorry that President Bush did not exploit the opportunity and that his calls for national service and shared sacrifice have been very feeble.

As I have observed the trying times our nation has been through since September 2001 I have heard multiple expressions of the need to create a sense of shared sacrifice and commitment to the global challenges the extremists using terrorism create. I have seen the President describe the sacrifice Americans make by watching the news:

• "I think a lot of people are in this fight. I mean, they sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible images of violence on TV every night. I mean, we've got a fantastic economy here in the United States, but yet, when you think about the psychology of the country, it is somewhat down because of this war." George Bush Interview with Jim Lehrer, 16 January 2007.

I have also heard the President call for national commitment through shopping.

• "I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy. Terrorists attacked a symbol of American prosperity. They did not touch its source. America is successful because of the hard work, and creativity, and enterprise of our people. These were the true strengths of our economy before September 11th, and they are our strengths today." President Bush Address to Congress and Nation, 20 September 2001.

Many observers have shown the other approaches the President could have taken (I have heard of a Manhattan project for energy independence, efforts to build our way out of terrorism, and joint military and diplomatic approaches), and I believe that many of those options are still open to the next leader. Most important is that there are still millions of young people who will respond to a call for their participation in making our nation stronger and safer.

The generation of Americans who fought in World War Two has been called the greatest generation for their participation in that trying war and in building the United States as a world power after the war. That generation was called to service by national leadership that recognized that the nation would be strengthened by the participation of all in its defense. The threat of terrorism in the United States continues, and will be hard to eliminate because of the damage that a small number of people willing to die can do. At the same time, this country can take its vulnerability to terror as a chance to strengthen its society from top to bottom, to create a more healthy nation, stronger for its expanded opportunities and citizen commitment, more vigilant in its protection of its founding principles and civil rights, and more democratic in its use of popular elections and voter participation.

A national service program will be a difficult challenge to bring to life. Will it be any more challenging than winning World War Two? How can we miss the opportunity to build a stronger nation and make the tragedies of September 2001 be seen as the starting point for a true American renaissance?