Conversing Across the Divide: An Meeting Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a learner studying public health
Political history Supported Green last time (also a member of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We shared starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and Spain. We bonded over our affection for the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He used an analogy about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of migrants arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
