Dining Across the Divide: A Meeting Among Different Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
One Diner: P., 34, from London
Profession Former government employee, now a student studying community health
Political history Voted Green last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”
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, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
The first participant During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – 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 excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of migrants coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your family.
Peter 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. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; times are different, modern people had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the betterment of society.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
