Conversing Over the Gap: An Meeting Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a learner focusing on community health
Political history Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We bonded over our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food 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 be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many migrants coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, 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 desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a certain level of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK profited 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; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people every day with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.
The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.