Dining Across the Gap: An Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Ex- civil servant, currently a student studying community health
Voting record Voted the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, Akshat has resided in the UK for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
Akshat I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant He used an analogy regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but many migrants coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? No.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Great 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 looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I converse with people every day whose views are contrary to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
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 dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
