Dining Over the Gap: An Encounter Among Opposing Perspectives
Meeting the Individuals
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Occupation Former government employee, now a student studying public health
Political history Voted Green recently (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life largely follows the same curve across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We bonded over our love of London.
The big beef
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go 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 certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, 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 compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – government, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I converse with individuals every day whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the betterment of the community.
The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.