Conversing Over the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a learner focusing on public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the UK for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The topics we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view migration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor about 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, people fleeing persecution, but many people 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 should only go if you can take care of yourself and your family.
Peter We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that you arrive and are employed 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 restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, 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 certain level of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the UK profited from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
