Dining Over the Gap: A Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives

Meeting the Participants

One Diner: P., 34, from London

Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner focusing on community health

Voting record Supported Green last time (also a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist instead of nationalist”

Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter did as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland

Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow

Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector

Political history Originally from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “somewhat moderate right”

Interesting fact He taught himself to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”

Initial impressions

Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The topics we discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly 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 split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe 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 US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for the capital.

The big beef

The first participant I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.

The second participant He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.

The first participant There are, unfortunately, people escaping oppression, but many migrants arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your family.

Peter We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.

Common ground

Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and ought to be promoted.

The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in fundamentals and ethics.

For afters

Akshat Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it should pay compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.

The second participant In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.

Takeaways

Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people every day whose views are contrary to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of the community.

The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more receptive to having conversations with others in the coming times.