Dining Over the Gap: A Encounter Among Different Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
One Participant: P., 34, from London
Profession Ex- civil servant, currently a learner studying public health
Voting record Supported Green last time (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup Peter created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Participant: A., 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact He taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also global, because human life largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and Spain. We bonded over our affection for London.
The big beef
The first participant I view migration similar to sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal 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.
The first participant There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but many migrants coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you come over and are employed and then after five years you obtain permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment for some time, application costs are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we have to have a degree of compassion.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, 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 UK profited from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
The second participant Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of the community.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to having conversations with others in the coming times.
