Dining Across the Divide: An Meeting Between Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner studying public health
Voting record Voted Green last time (also a member of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup he created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We connected through our love of London.
The big beef
Akshat I view migration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden 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.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of the community – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; times are different, modern people were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community.
Peter We remained 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 engaging in dialogues with others in future.
