Dining Across the Divide: A Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Individuals
First Diner: P., 34, London
Occupation Ex- civil servant, currently a student focusing on public health
Voting record Voted Green recently (also a member of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche He taught himself to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant During the past two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life 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, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, 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 the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I view migration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with certain details. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – government, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it ought to provide compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. It’s about bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
