🔗 Share this article Dining Across the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Perspectives Introducing the Individuals First Diner: P., 34, London Occupation Former government employee, currently a student studying community health Political history Voted the Green Party recently (also a affiliate of the political group); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than patriotic” Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup he created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery Other Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry Political history Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right” Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated” For starters Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely evolve similarly 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 starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for London. Key disagreements Akshat I view migration similar to sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the dish is delicious. Use too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty. Peter He had a metaphor regarding seasoning. It would be odd to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation. The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not contribute much and can burden the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives. Peter We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an NHS surcharge, access to benefits is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a certain level of humanity. Common ground The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted. The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of society – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and ethics. Dessert and debate Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to do that? No. Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the role that imperial rule contributed to it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining what went wrong and where we should be now. Final thoughts The first participant It may not alter the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly with opinions are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of society. The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.