Dining Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
One Diner: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Ex- civil servant, now a learner focusing on public health
Political history Supported Green recently (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The issues we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had 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. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
The big beef
Akshat I view migration similar to adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? No.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
The first participant It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I converse with people regularly whose views are contrary to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
