Dining Across the Gap: An Encounter Between Different Perspectives
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: P., 34, London
Profession Former civil servant, currently a student focusing on community health
Political history Voted the Green Party recently (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as âleft, and globalist rather than nationalistâ
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as âsomewhat moderate rightâ
Interesting fact He self-learned to understand the Urdu language. âIt has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguingâ
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but Peter wasnât all gung ho â we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers â fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? Weâre both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; Iâve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I donât think itâs like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. Itâs been a hostile environment for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. The red carpet isnât rolled out for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we donât want you. I believe we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peterâs sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of society â government, the media â benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: 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. Letâs say the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I understand Peterâs concerns. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
Peter We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didnât persuade him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with others in the coming times.
