Dining Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on community health
Voting record Supported Green last time (also a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for opportunity, 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. I don’t think it’s like you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
