Conversing Across the Divide: An Meeting Between Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, London
Profession Ex- government employee, now a student focusing on community health
Political history Voted Green recently (also a member of the party); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup he did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has resided in the UK for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues 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 had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many people coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit 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 relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people every day whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
