Dining Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a student studying community health
Political history Voted Green recently (and a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view immigration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not 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 are able to support your own needs and your family.
Peter We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you come over 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, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of the community – politics, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
