Dining Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Opposing Viewpoints
Introducing the Individuals
One Diner: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former civil servant, currently a student focusing on community health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he did as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from India, he has lived in the UK for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat During the past two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The issues Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We connected through our affection for London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I look at migration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to move to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – government, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that since the UK profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people had no control of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of the community.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
