Conversing Over the Gap: An Meeting Among Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner focusing on community health
Political history Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the US. 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 productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived 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. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And concerning the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – government, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals every day whose views are contrary to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community.
Peter We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert 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 open to having conversations with other people in future.
