Dining Over the Gap: An Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Former government employee, now a student focusing on community health
Voting record Voted the Green Party recently (also a member of the party); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup Peter did as a child was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector
Political history Originally from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
For starters
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We bonded over our love of London.
The big beef
The first participant I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but many migrants coming to the United Kingdom are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, 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 think we have to have a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the press – thrive off stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to those countries. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about examining past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can work towards the betterment of the community.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to having conversations with others in future.
