Dining Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
First Diner: Peter, 34, London
Profession Ex- government employee, now a student focusing on public health
Political history Voted the Green Party recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The topics we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life largely evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, 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 being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels 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.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization 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 won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
