Dining Across the Gap: An Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, currently a learner focusing on community health
Political history Voted Green recently (and a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he created as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life largely follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the UK 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 different nation for opportunity, so you should only go 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 is the case that you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning 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 believe we have to have a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the UK profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with others in the coming times.
