Dining Over the Divide: An Meeting Among Different Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on community health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (and a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup Peter created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact He self-learned to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, 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. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We bonded over our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at immigration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people coming to the UK are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your family.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of society – government, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that because the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say 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.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that everyone can strive for the improvement of the community.
The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in future.
