Dining Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
First Diner: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a student focusing on community health
Political history Supported Green recently (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Diner: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He taught himself to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The issues we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but many people coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of the community – government, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals every day with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of society.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with others in future.
