Dining Over the Gap: A Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, now a student studying community health
Voting record Voted Green recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a teacup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
For starters
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The issues Peter and I discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, 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 have resided in the United States and Spain. We bonded over our affection for the capital.
The big beef
The first participant I view immigration similar to adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant He used an analogy about salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of migrants coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on 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 yourself and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of the community – government, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that because the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with present day morality; eras vary, modern people were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to do that? No.
The second participant In the past, I believe there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I understand his worries. I converse with individuals every day whose views are contrary to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
