Dining Over the Divide: A Meeting Between Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a learner studying public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact He self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The issues 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.
The second participant We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and Spain. We connected through our love of the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of society – government, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals every day with opinions are opposite to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in future.
