Conversing Across the Gap: A Encounter Between Opposing Perspectives

Introducing the Individuals

First Diner: P., 34, from London

Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a student focusing on public health

Voting record Voted Green last time (also a member of the political group); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of nationalist”

Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup he created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery

Second Diner: A., 43, Harrow

Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry

Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the UK for five years, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”

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

Initial impressions

The first participant During the past two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve 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 split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I believe he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? 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

Akshat I look at migration similar to adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.

The second participant He used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.

The first participant There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of humanity.

Common ground

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

Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.

For afters

The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.

Peter In the past, I don’t think 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 part that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

Final thoughts

The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with 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.

The second participant We were there 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 both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in future.