Dining Over the Gap: An Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Ex- government employee, now a learner focusing on public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter did as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, 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 follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He used an analogy regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many migrants coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a new country for opportunity, 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 is the case that you come over and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. 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 don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
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: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. 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 open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
