Conversing Over the Divide: A Meeting Among Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, London
Occupation Former civil servant, now a learner focusing on public health
Voting record Voted Green last time (also a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup he created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I view migration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation 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 way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
