Dining Across the Divide: A Encounter Among Different Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
First Participant: P., 34, London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on community health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant He had a metaphor about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you come over and are employed and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that because the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve 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 converse with people every day with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
