Dining Over the Divide: A Meeting Between Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on community health
Voting record Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? 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.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We became confused with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment 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 recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals every day whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that everyone can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
