Conversing Over the Divide: An Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, now a learner focusing on public health
Political history Supported Green last time (also a member of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup he created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Diner: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe 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 bonded over our love of London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view immigration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Add 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 odd to exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your family.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, 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 press – benefit from creating conflict. We did find common ground in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do 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 UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
