🔗 Share this article Conversing Across the Divide: An Meeting Among Different Perspectives Introducing the Individuals One Diner: P., 34, London Occupation Former civil servant, currently a student studying community health Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (also a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic” Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter did as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry Political history Hailing from India, he has resided in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre” Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated” For starters The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos. Peter We shared starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We connected through our affection for the capital. Key disagreements The first participant I view immigration 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. Peter He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country. Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives. The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, 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 believe we have to have a certain level of compassion. Common ground The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted. The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of the community – government, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We did find common ground in fundamentals and ethics. For afters Akshat Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not. The second participant In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now. Final thoughts Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to people every day with opinions are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community. Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with others in the coming times.