Conversing Across the Divide: A Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner focusing on public health
Political history Voted Green recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup he created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the UK for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack 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 connected through our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – government, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are contrary to mine. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with others in the coming times.
