LEGENDARY American newscaster Dan Rather let a crucial point go missing in his otherwise totally inappropriate soliloquy to the cameras last week.

He eulogised about the "true heroism" of a colleague turning up for work, despite having skin infected by anthrax.

It was an alarming misjudgement in a city protected by firemen infinitely more deserving of the title.

It also masked the truth that the only thing America had to fear was fear itself.

The view had little relevance in and around the Faithful City until Monday, when a package addressed simply to Fleet Street - the name of the old heart of London's national newspaper world - burst in Blackpole Sorting Office, revealing powder inside.

In a split second, our community was presented with a moment most of us probably never dreamed would happen.

How we react now is the most important consequence.

The incident was quickly described as "non-credible threat", which means that it was either the work of a crank or simply a thoughtless individual who didn't see the risk in sending powder through the post at such a sensitive time.

If it's the former, the police will no doubt pursue them with urgency. If it's the latter, then we pray that common sense prevails from now on.

We should take it as a cautionary reminder, however, that anyone, anywhere who deals with post must continue to maintain their vigilance and keep reviewing their guidelines and procedures.

Otherwise, as newsman Rather rightly said, our time is best spent spreading the message not to panic. That will only disrupt our lives.