Conversing Over the Divide: An Encounter Between Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a learner focusing on community health
Voting record Supported Green last time (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He used an analogy regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a degree of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to people every day with opinions are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of society.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
