Dining Across the Divide: An Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: P., 34, from London
Occupation Ex- government employee, now a student focusing on public health
Political history Supported the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, 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 bonded over our affection for the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your family.
The second participant We became confused with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
For afters
Akshat Peter believes that because the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? No.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. It’s about bringing everyone to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
