Conversing Across the Divide: An Encounter Among Different Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: P., 34, London
Profession Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on public health
Political history Supported Green last time (also a member of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup he did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant He had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but many people coming to the UK are those seeking better finances 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.
Peter We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a degree of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, modern people had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
