Dining Over the Gap: An Encounter Among Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, London
Occupation Ex- civil servant, now a learner studying community health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter did as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and Spain. We bonded over our love of the capital.
The big beef
Akshat I look at immigration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. 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.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people coming to the United Kingdom 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 prospects, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that 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, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And concerning the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of society – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that because the United Kingdom profited from colonial times, it should pay compensation to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK 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.
Peter In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining past errors and where we should be now.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to people every day whose views are contrary to my own. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of the community.
The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.
