Conversing Across the Gap: An Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, now a learner focusing on community health
Voting record Supported Green recently (and a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup he did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation 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 supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of London.
The big beef
Akshat I view immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but many people coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the UK profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, in order that all of us can work towards the betterment of the community.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
