Conversing Across the Divide: A Meeting Among Opposing Viewpoints

Meeting the Individuals

One Diner: Peter, 34, from London

Profession Former government employee, now a student studying public health

Political history Supported the Green Party last time (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”

Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup he did as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery

Other Diner: A., 43, Harrow

Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry

Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”

Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”

Initial impressions

Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.

Peter We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. 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 bonded over our affection for London.

The big beef

The first participant I look at immigration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.

The second participant Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.

Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a certain level of compassion.

Common ground

Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.

Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.

Dessert and debate

The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.

The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

Takeaways

Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly with opinions are opposite to my own. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.

The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.