Conversing Across the Divide: A Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Former government employee, currently a student studying public health
Voting record Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup he did as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view migration similar to 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.
Peter He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a certain level of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. 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 agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in future.
