Conversing Across the Gap: A Meeting Among Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, now a learner studying community health
Voting record Voted Green last time (also a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup he did as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The topics we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.
The big beef
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your family.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of 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 concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the press – thrive off stoking division. We did find common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter believes that because the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it should pay compensation 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 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve examining past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I talk to people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can strive for the improvement of the community.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. 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 other people in future.
