Conversing Over the Gap: A Encounter Among Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner studying public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the party); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, 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 Spain. We connected through our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country 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. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, 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.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter believes that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware 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 past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can strive for the betterment of society.
The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in future.
