Conversing Over the Divide: A Meeting Between Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Ex- civil servant, currently a student studying community health
Voting record Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup he did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The issues we discussed 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 Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at immigration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many people coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of the community – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day with opinions are contrary to mine. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter We remained for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in future.
