Dining Over the Divide: A Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Ex- government employee, now a learner studying community health
Voting record Supported Green last time (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant He had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your family.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of society – government, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that because the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant 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 anything, but we each liked the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with others in future.