Conversing Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: P., 34, London
Profession Former government employee, currently a student studying public health
Voting record Voted the Green Party recently (and a member of the political group); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack 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 love of London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He used an analogy about salt. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with others in future.
