Dining Over the Divide: An Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former civil servant, now a student focusing on community health
Voting record Voted the Green Party last time (also a member of the political group); previously Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. 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 bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family.
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 following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And concerning the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a certain level of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people were not responsible 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 funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals every day with opinions are opposite to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in future.
