🔗 Share this article Conversing Over the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives Meeting the Participants One Participant: P., 34, from London Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a learner focusing on community health Voting record Voted Green last time (and a member of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of nationalist” Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector Voting record Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right” Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing” For starters Akshat During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos. Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of London. Key disagreements The first participant I look at immigration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty. Peter Akshat used an analogy about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the country. Akshat There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but many people arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family. The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and work and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a certain level of compassion. Sharing plate The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted. Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in fundamentals and ethics. For afters The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not. The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now. Final thoughts Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals every day whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone 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 had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince 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.