Conversing Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Occupation Ex- government employee, currently a student studying community health
Political history Voted the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Originally from India, he has resided in the UK for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The issues we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life more or less evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many people arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And concerning the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK benefitted from colonial times, it should pay compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are contrary to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of the community.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with others in the coming times.
