🔗 Share this article Dining Across the Divide: An Meeting Between Different Viewpoints Meeting the Individuals One Participant: Peter, 34, from London Profession Ex- government employee, currently a learner studying public health Voting record Supported Green recently (also a member of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and globalist instead of nationalist” Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup he created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow Profession Risk manager in the construction sector Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the UK for five years, and supported the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre” Interesting fact He self-learned to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated” For starters The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely evolve similarly across the world. I was expecting someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos. The second participant We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London. The big beef The first participant I view immigration like adding salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty. The second participant Akshat used an analogy about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country. The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support yourself and your family. The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. In my view it is the case that you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. 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 believe we must maintain a degree of compassion. Sharing plate The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged. Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and values. For afters The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the UK was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? No. The second participant In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities. Takeaways Akshat It may not alter the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. It’s about bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone can strive for the betterment of society. Peter We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to having conversations with others in future.