Conversing Across the Gap: An Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: P., 34, from London
Occupation Former civil servant, currently a learner studying public health
Political history Supported the Green Party recently (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he did as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the UK for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view immigration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your family.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding 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 think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment 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 both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
