Conversing Over the Gap: A Meeting Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a student focusing on community health
Voting record Supported Green recently (and a member of the political group); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe 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 Spain. We bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
Akshat I look at migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant He used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily 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 can take care of your own needs and your family.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of society.
The second participant We were there 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 might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
