Conversing Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Ex- government employee, currently a student studying public health
Political history Supported the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup he created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting 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 appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Would he criticize 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 bonded over 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. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, 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.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and values.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about examining past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to people every day whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with others in future.
