Conversing Across the Divide: A Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, now a student studying community health
Voting record Voted Green last time (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life more or less evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, 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 believe he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our affection for the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that because the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount 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, when I first moved to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals every day whose views are contrary to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that everyone can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert 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 having conversations with other people in future.
