Conversing Across the Divide: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives

Introducing the Individuals

First Diner: P., 34, London

Profession Former government employee, now a student focusing on public health

Political history Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”

Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland

Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow

Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector

Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”

Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”

For starters

Akshat During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting 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 shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.

The big beef

Akshat I view migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.

The second participant He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.

Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value 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 can take care of your own needs and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of humanity.

Common ground

The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.

The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and values.

Dessert and debate

Akshat Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.

The second participant Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.

Takeaways

Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I converse with people regularly whose views are contrary to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.

Peter We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.