Conversing Over the Divide: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives

Meeting the Participants

First Diner: P., 34, London

Profession Ex- government employee, now a learner focusing on community health

Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”

Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland

Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow

Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry

Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”

Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”

For starters

Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

The second participant We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.

The big beef

The first participant I view immigration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.

Peter Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.

Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a certain level of humanity.

Sharing plate

The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.

The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and values.

For afters

Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it should pay compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.

Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.

Takeaways

The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals every day with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.

Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in future.