Dining Over the Divide: An Meeting Between Opposing Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
First Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on public health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the party); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from India, Akshat has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. 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 Spain. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view migration similar to adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but many people arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden 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 yourself and your family.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. In my view it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the new policies, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of humanity.
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’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of the community – government, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter believes that because the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the role that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals every day whose views are contrary to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
