Dining Across the Divide: An Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
First Participant: P., 34, London
Occupation Former civil servant, currently a learner focusing on public health
Voting record Voted Green recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist 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: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve 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 shared starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and Spain. We connected through our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat used an analogy about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the benefit system. No one compels you to move to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the media – thrive off stoking division. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about examining past errors and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
