Conversing Over the Divide: An Encounter Between Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
First Participant: P., 34, London
Profession Former civil servant, now a learner studying community health
Voting record Supported Green recently (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of migrants coming to 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 should only go if you are able to support yourself and your family.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We did find common ground in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay compensation to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to do that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation isn’t just about signing a cheque, it ought to involve examining past errors and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I converse with people every day whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that everyone can strive for the betterment of society.
The second participant 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 both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
