Editor's Note: Although the world can be a dangerous place, one does not have to passively wait for acts of violence to occur. This series provides the tools to help anticipate, avoid and respond to danger. Part I explores the mindset needed to respond to a dangerous situation. The world is a dangerous place. Media reports of journalist beheadings in Syria, mall attacks in Kenya and school shootings in the United States provide regular reminders of this fact. In reality, violence and terror have always been a part of the human condition. The Chinese built the Great Wall for reasons other than tourism.