Conversing Across the Divide: An Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a learner studying community health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup Peter did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life largely follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We connected through our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation 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 is the case that you come over and are employed and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, 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.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of events 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? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in future.
