Dining Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints

Meeting the Participants

One Participant: P., 34, London

Profession Ex- government employee, now a learner focusing on community health

Political history Voted Green recently (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of nationalist”

Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup Peter did as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland

Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow

Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector

Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”

Interesting fact He self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”

Initial impressions

The first participant Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

The second participant We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and Spain. We connected through our affection for the capital.

Key disagreements

The first participant I view migration 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 meal is either too bland or too salty.

The second participant Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.

The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.

Peter We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.

Sharing plate

Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.

Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.

Dessert and debate

The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom benefitted from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.

Peter Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

Takeaways

Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.

Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.