Dining Over the Gap: An Meeting Between Different Perspectives

Meeting the Participants

First Diner: P., 34, London

Occupation Former government employee, now a student studying public health

Political history Supported Green last time (also a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist rather than nationalist”

Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup he did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland

Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow

Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry

Voting record Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”

Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”

For starters

Akshat During the past 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

The second participant We split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.

Key disagreements

The first participant I view immigration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.

Peter He used an analogy about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.

Akshat There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we must maintain a certain level of compassion.

Sharing plate

The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.

The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of the community – government, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.

For afters

The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.

The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about examining past errors and our current responsibilities.

Takeaways

The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, so that everyone can strive for the betterment of the community.

The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade 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.