Dining Over the Divide: A Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
First Diner: P., 34, from London
Profession Ex- government employee, currently a student studying public health
Political history Supported the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life more or less follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at immigration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be odd to exist if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but many migrants coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your family.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. 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 limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, 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 – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? No.
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, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.