🔗 Share this article Conversing Over the Gap: A Encounter Among Different Perspectives Meeting the Individuals First Diner: P., 34, London Occupation Former civil servant, now a student focusing on community health Voting record Supported Green last time (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist instead of patriotic” Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre” Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing” For starters The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The issues we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos. Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We bonded over our affection for the capital. The big beef The first participant I view migration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned. Peter He had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the country. Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family. Peter We became confused with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a certain level of humanity. Sharing plate Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted. Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – politics, the media – thrive off stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and values. For afters The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not. The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities. Final thoughts Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I converse with people regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment of the community. Peter We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in future.