Conversing Across the Gap: An Meeting Among Different Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on public health
Political history Supported the Green Party last time (also a member of the party); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life largely follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We connected through our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals every day whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
