Conversing Over the Gap: An Encounter Between Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Former government employee, now a learner focusing on public health
Political history Supported the Green Party last time (also a member of the political group); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he created as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He used an analogy about salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your family.
Peter We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that you arrive and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the new policies, whereby 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 must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people every day whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of society.
The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
