Dining Across the Divide: An Meeting Among Different Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Ex- civil servant, currently a student studying public health
Voting record Supported Green recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact 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’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
Akshat I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor 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 escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the press – thrive off stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I converse with people regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of society.
The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
