To be a new New Yorker.

"Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices but reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us before God and before man, and hopes and commits himself so that no event be an opportunity for further growth of hatred, but for peace."

- the official Vatican reaction to the news about Osama bin Laden's death

As a new New Yorker, my initial reaction to the news of bin Laden's death was fear, not joy, not pride in our nation's armed forces. When George Stephanopolous interrupted Brothers and Sisters on ABC to bring me the news at about 10:45 last night, my initial reaction was almost a sort of panic.

I'm scared that there will be retaliation. I'm scared that this is not the end.

Can the death of one man (albeit one very dangerous, despised, hated terrorist mastermind of a man) change anything? We've been at this war in the Middle East for 10 years now. With all the loss of American lives and also those of the Allied Forces, when is it enough?

It's a strange feeling to be as fiercely attached to New York as I am now, only having been here for 15 months, when I wasn't here 10 years ago for what was arguably the single most impactful event that has ever happened to New Yorkers and to Americans in general. 10 years ago, I was safe in the suburbs of Minneapolis while New Yorkers were experiencing the fear and violation of the September 11th attacks firsthand.

The news of Osama bin Laden's death reminded me that I haven't had to live through anything as devastating as 9/11, and God willing, I will never have to. But last night, after ABC brought us the news, I feared that there would (and still could be) a retaliation from Al Qaeda.

And where are they still most likely to strike? New York. Or Washington, D.C., where my brother, cousins, and many of my closest friends still live.

I saw all the pictures of GW students celebrating in front of the White House last night, and part of me wished I was still a student and still in D.C. But more than anything, I feel like we cannot celebrate just yet. We are not yet out of the dark.

We have an opportunity for peace approaching us, but I don't think it is quite within our grasp just yet. We can wait for it with our hands folded, or we can take this event and use it as a catalyst for change and for peace.

Politicky.

Some of you may have heard about the proposed Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero. Some of you may have noticed how this issue has completely taken over media coverage, outraged and alienated just about every group of people in the United States, and become a huge topic for debate in the last month or so.

This issue more than anything represents to me what is wrong with American politics and political dialogue. Americans have lost the ability to dialogue civilly about any issue without bringing in a sandstorm of emotion and inappropriate diatribes directed at the other side of the issue. This is not strictly a Democrat-Republican issue; the battle lines have been drawn jaggedly through the parties in this situation.

America, what's up? Many of our forebears were great communicators, skilled at engaging the other side in debate without personal attack and acknowledging the other side's opinions; disagreeing with their opinions, yes, but using more Socratic methods to attempt and bring the other side round.

American sensationalism has permeated our political sphere, and I'm personally becoming more and more disgusted with the way we discuss these issues with one another. My brother is one of the most conservative, party-Republicans that I know, yet he is amazing at dialoguing. He and I disagree dramatically on many hot-button topics, but we can still have great discussions, questioning the logical bases for one another's arguments without questioning one another's morality, ethics, or character.

In the conversations I've had regarding the Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero, I don't believe that a single person (regardless of their political persuasion or opinion about the proposed Islamic center!) has heard a single word that I've said for being so caught up in wanting to tell me their own opinions.

The problem, thus, is that, even in this time of everyone having an opinion about everything, still no one is being heard. The victor is He Who Shouts The Loudest.

Go read up on your Greeks - they knew how to do this right. French Philosophes and Enlightenment-era American thinkers known to frequent the Parisian salons (Hamilton, Jefferson, to name a few) could teach us a thing or two. And yeah, next time you're talking politics with someone you disagree with, shut up and listen, ask questions about why they think what they do, and then calmly tell them why you think what you do.

Trust me, learning to dialogue will save your relationships with anyone of a different political persuasion than yourself. And, well, it will make you nicer to talk to.