Dining Over the Gap: An Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Former government employee, now a learner studying community health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup he did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view migration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He used an analogy about salt. It would be odd to exist if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your family.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, whereby 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 degree of compassion.
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 concurred that certain elements of the community – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
