Conversing Over the Gap: An Meeting Between Opposing Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: P., 34, from London
Occupation Ex- government employee, now a learner focusing on community health
Voting record Supported Green last time (and a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely 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 starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our love of the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that because the UK profited from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with individuals every day with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of society.
Peter 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 the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with others in future.
