Conversing Across the Divide: A Meeting Among Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a student studying community health
Political history Supported the Green Party recently (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has resided in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We split starters – seafood 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 being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people every day with opinions are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that everyone can work towards the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
