Dining Over the Divide: A Encounter Between Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a learner focusing on community health
Political history Supported Green last time (also a member of the party); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Voting record Originally from India, he has resided in the UK for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less 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.
The second participant We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I view immigration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many people coming to the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
Peter We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are really high, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. 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. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, so that everyone can work towards the betterment of the community.
The second participant We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
