Conversing Across the Divide: A Meeting Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
First Diner: P., 34, London
Occupation Ex- government employee, now a student studying community health
Political history Voted the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup he created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We shared starters – seafood 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 my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.
The big beef
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden 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 relatives.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; times are different, modern people had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with individuals every day whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank 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 the coming times.
