At heart of good political discussion: the idea

We are, as polls tell us and pundits reinforce, Polarized Nation.

En route to the election, states are divided blue-red. Voters are lodged in niches. Discourse is driven by labels and venom, not only in the public sphere - the vice president fires profanity at a Democratic senator in Congress, filmmaker Michael Moore fires polemic at the Republican president in "Fahrenheit 9/11" - but also in our backyards. Friends are falling out left and right over "left" and "right."

A positive development, however, can be seen in this polarization: Partisanship at the grass roots can be seen, after a long sleep of apathy, as a political awakening. The wake-up call, of course, was 9/11. Not surprisingly, we find ourselves - newly awake politically, yet beset with complexities of mortal urgency - not in a debate but a brawl.

How do we even talk?

We might take a cue from ... the French.

The French way of conversation - fueled by a love of ideas - might ease the present impasse and lead to a more nuanced way of thinking necessary in today's volatile world.

While some Republicans mock Democratic nominee John Kerry for "looking French" and the "surrender monkeys" in Paris for refusing to join our Iraq war, the French way can instruct.

My own instruction, year-long and total-immersion, came in grad school at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Italy when I roomed with a young woman from Lyon. As we ventured into ideas, opinions, just shooting the breeze, I noticed Florence invariably responded to my input with: "That's interesting. Why do you think that?"

Not to be rude, and because conversation suddenly got fascinating (the ego adores attention), I'd return the favor and ask Florence the evolution of her thought. Et voilà, we were off - to a Year of Living Verbally (as our landlady could attest).

Thought, thinking, the idea: As Florence explained, French conversation stresses the idea, not the speaker or the feelings in play ("It's safer that way"). Though when we got a good volley going, feeling crept in - to animating effect, not derailing.

Premises were questioned, counterarguments posed (to avoid a false either/or choice): The point being that an idea's inner logic was to be pursued, rigorously, no matter where it led - ideally to a synthesis - nor how long it took, for it was time bien rempli, well filled.

In pursuit, we'd search for le mot juste. Terms and labels were examined (I can hear Florence now: "Please, what does it mean, 'surrender monkey'?"). Any idée fixe was flagged.

In this idea-fest, my contribution was the American idea of individualism and fighting Fate. In sum, it was a year well filled.

Too cerebral for americans? I'll confess I faded occasionally at yet another "Why?" from Florence, especially if late at night.

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