Dining Across the Gap: A Encounter Between Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a student focusing on community health
Political history Supported the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact He self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant 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 global, because human life largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. 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 connected through our affection for the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in fundamentals and values.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are contrary to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of the community.
The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in future.