🔗 Share this article Conversing Across the Divide: A Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives Introducing the Individuals One Participant: P., 34, from London Profession Former government employee, now a learner focusing on public health Voting record Voted the Green Party recently (and a member of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than nationalist” Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery Second Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry Voting record Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre” Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing” For starters Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics Peter and I discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos. Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for London. Key disagreements Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned. The second participant He had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation. Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family. The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a certain level of compassion. Sharing plate The first participant Peter’s sceptical of 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 certain elements of the community – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics. Dessert and debate Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not. The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonization isn’t just 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 understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can strive for the improvement of society. Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.