Conversing Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a student studying community health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Other Diner: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The topics Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant 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 dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move 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 became confused with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can strive for the improvement of society.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in future.