Dining Over the Divide: An Meeting Between Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Ex- government employee, currently a student focusing on community health
Political history Voted Green recently (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup he did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact He self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting 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 split starters – 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 being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We bonded over our love of London.
The big beef
Akshat I view migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. 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 seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but many people coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter 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 get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of society – 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 UK benefitted from colonial times, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, modern people were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? No.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of society.
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 anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with others in future.
