Dining Over the Divide: A Encounter Among Opposing Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a student studying public health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (also a member of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he created as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Amuse bouche He taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at immigration similar to adding 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.
The second participant He had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, 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 burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of society – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, 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 talk to people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
