Dining Over the Gap: An Meeting Between Opposing Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, London
Profession Former civil servant, now a student studying public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from India, he has resided in the UK for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We shared starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
The big beef
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for prospects, 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. In my view it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the press – thrive off stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter believes that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with individuals regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of the community.
Peter We remained for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in future.
