Conversing Over the Gap: An Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
One Diner: P., 34, London
Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner focusing on public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he created as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Originally from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He taught himself to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues 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 was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We shared 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 being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at immigration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK 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.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day whose views are contrary to my own. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with others in the coming times.
