Dining Over the Divide: An Meeting Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a learner focusing on public health
Political history Voted Green last time (also a member of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Other Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view migration like sprinkling salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food 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, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move 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 some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding 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 have to have a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of society – politics, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter 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 both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
