Dining Across the Divide: An Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
First Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, currently a student focusing on community health
Voting record Voted Green recently (and a member of the political group); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, 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. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and Spain. We connected through our love of London.
The big beef
Akshat I view immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. 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 exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your family.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We did find common ground in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve examining past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to people every day whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, so that everyone can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
