Dining Across the Divide: A Meeting Among Opposing Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
One Diner: P., 34, from London
Profession Former civil servant, now a student studying community health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The topics we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We connected through our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at immigration like adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat used an analogy about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely 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 understand his worries. I converse with individuals regularly whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
