Conversing Across the Divide: An Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives

Meeting the Participants

One Participant: P., 34, from London

Profession Ex- civil servant, now a student studying public health

Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of nationalist”

Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery

Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow

Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector

Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”

Amuse bouche He self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”

Initial impressions

The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life more or less evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.

The second participant We split starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.

The big beef

Akshat I view migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.

Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.

Akshat There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but many migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your family.

The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.

Common ground

Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.

Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and values.

Dessert and debate

The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people 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 significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.

Peter In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

Takeaways

Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I understand his worries. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. It’s about bringing everyone to the same page, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.

The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.