Dining Across the Divide: An Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
First Diner: P., 34, London
Occupation Ex- government employee, currently a student focusing on public health
Voting record Voted the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. 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 was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much 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.
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 get indefinite leave to remain. 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 anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; eras vary, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day with opinions are contrary to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can strive for the improvement of society.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with other people in future.
