Conversing Over the Divide: An Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, now a student focusing on public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I believe he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? 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 London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view migration like sprinkling salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, 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. No one compels you to move to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of society – politics, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; times are different, modern people had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years 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? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.