Conversing Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a student studying public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup he did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The issues 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 someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but many migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your family.
The second participant We became confused with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, 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 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 believe we have to have a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
