🔗 Share this article Dining Over the Divide: An Meeting Between Opposing Perspectives Introducing the Individuals One Participant: Peter, 34, London Occupation Former government employee, now a student focusing on public health Political history Voted the Green Party last time (also a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of nationalist” Interesting fact A drawing of a tea cup he did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow Profession Risk manager in the construction sector Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre” Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing” Initial impressions The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The topics Peter and I discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos. Peter We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London. Key disagreements Akshat I view immigration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned. The second participant Akshat had a metaphor about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation. The first participant There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to go to a new country for opportunity, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your family. The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of compassion. Common ground The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged. Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – thrive off creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in basic principles and ethics. For afters Akshat Peter believes that because the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not. The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonization is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities. Final thoughts Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with individuals regularly with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of society. The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.