Dining Over the Gap: A Encounter Among Opposing Viewpoints
Meeting the Participants
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Former government employee, currently a learner focusing on public health
Voting record Supported the Green Party recently (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup he did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from India, he has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche He self-learned to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past two decades, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view migration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to exist if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but many people coming to the United Kingdom 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 prospects, so you should only go if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We got lost 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. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming 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 recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a degree of compassion.
Sharing plate
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – thrive off stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Takeaways
The first participant It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, so that everyone can strive for the betterment of society.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
