Conversing Over the Gap: An Encounter Between Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a student focusing on community health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche He taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life largely follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view immigration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your family.
The second participant We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and values.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the UK profited from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I converse with people every day whose views are contrary to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
