Celestino, 55, Bristol
Occupation: Retired
Voting record: Celestino, an American, sees himself as “a centrist.” In 2020, he voted for Biden, and in 2024, for Trump. In the UK, he has voted in local elections, most recently for the Conservatives.
Amuse bouche: Before moving to England, Celestino lived in South Korea, where he learned to paraglide. “I spent my weekends flying like a bird.”
Miles, 39, Bristol
Occupation: Accountant/lumberjack
Voting record: Miles describes himself as “left of centre and very liberal.” He has recently voted Green but is still undecided about Zack Polanski.
Amuse bouche: Miles is part-owner of a sawmill and conifer wood in Wales, which is currently being felled and restored to deciduous woodland.
For starters:
Celestino: I had spring rolls, and we both had the fish. It’s a nice place.
Miles: The fish was delicious. They had a cookery course going on, which was interesting to see.
Celestino: My family, originally from Portugal, moved to America when I was three. We became naturalized US citizens but always kept our Portuguese citizenship. I now have settled status in the UK after living here for five years. Miles is from Cornwall, and I have friends in Devon, so I know there’s rivalry about the proper way to serve scones with cream and jam.
Miles: We were having a friendly chat, then it was like Celestino suddenly switched on: right, we’re here to debate. Almost like when you see boxers joking around, then suddenly they’re ready to fight. If he’s a centrist, he’s an American centrist; their center is to the right of ours.
The big beef:
Celestino: Last year, I visited my family in New Jersey, a blue-collar state. For every home with a Biden sign, there were two or three with a Trump one. I wasn’t impressed with Kamala Harris, and I saw the mess at the border. My cousin complained that the school was now filled with children of migrants.
Miles: I said, “What about the farmers who haven’t sold a single soybean to China because of his trade war?” Two-thirds of the workforce in some states is made up of migrants. Farmers might have voted for Trump for various reasons, but destroying the economy wasn’t one of them.
Celestino: The radical left hates him, no matter what. If Trump announced a cure for cancer, the left would complain he’s putting scientists out of work. On farm workers, there should be work visas, maybe for two years.
Miles: Trump isn’t thinking long-term; he doesn’t really care about the country. And he now seems to have lost it, sometimes barely following a thought. There should be real concern about his ability to lead a country.
Sharing plate:
Celestino: I was expecting some leftist, anti-capitalist, socialist Guardianista, going on about the evils of late-stage capitalism. But no. We agreed that financial literacy is not taught in this country or in the US. I think maybe the government or banks do it on purpose. We agreed on the benefits of investing.
Miles: We felt children should be given age-appropriate financial education, so they understand how it all works and don’t get caught up in scams.Celestino: We talked about ICE agents targeting undocumented immigrants. If you break into a house, you’re a squatter—they’re like squatters in America. My family were immigrants too. My mother loves Portugal, but America gave her everything. We followed the rules and waited our turn; others should do the same.
Miles: The idea that you need rules and enforcement isn’t completely wrong, but Trump doesn’t follow the rules himself. The problem with ICE is that they’re not just going after illegal immigrants—they’re targeting anyone who isn’t white, and they use violent methods. They just announced $45 billion to build detention centers, and it makes you wonder what they’ll be used for in the future.
Takeaway
Celestino: It was a blast. If Miles hadn’t liked me, we would have just eaten, made small talk, and left. But we kept chatting until he had to go take care of his son. I think we made a real connection.
Miles: It would be good to meet again. Sometimes you get so caught up in the conversation that you don’t think everything through. For example, I didn’t really challenge Celestino on his seemingly conflicting views about following rules. But I really enjoyed it.
Additional reporting: Kitty Drake. Celestino and Miles ate at The Saigon Kitchen, Bristol.
Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and concise FAQs about the concept of Dining Across the Divide inspired by the quote I thought Id meet a leftleaning anticapitalist socialist who reads The Guardian
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is Dining Across the Divide
Its an event or initiative where people with very different political or social views are paired to share a meal and have a conversation aiming to bridge divides and foster understanding
2 Whats the point of doing this
The main goal is to break down stereotypes reduce political polarization and help people see each other as human beings rather than just as political opponents
3 Do I have to be an expert on politics to participate
Not at all The focus is on openminded listening and sharing personal experiences not on winning a debate or having deep policy knowledge
4 What if the conversation gets awkward or heated
Thats a common concern The events usually have simple guidelines like listening respectfully and sharing from your own experience to help keep the conversation civil and productive
5 Where does the quote I thought Id meet a leftleaning anticapitalist socialist come from
Its a real quote from a participant who was surprised to find that the person they were dining with didnt fit the stereotype they had in their head highlighting how these dinners can challenge our preconceptions
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What are the biggest benefits of participating
Benefits include humanizing the other side reducing the us vs them mentality discovering common ground you didnt know existed and becoming a more empathetic and effective communicator
7 What are some common challenges people face
Common challenges include the fear of conflict falling into debate mode instead of dialogue struggling to listen without interrupting and dealing with the discomfort of having ones own views challenged
8 Can you give me an example of a successful conversation
A successful example might be a conservative and a progressive realizing they both share a deep concern for their local communitys education system even if they have different ideas about the solutions
9 What are some practical tips for having a productive conversation
Lead with curiosity Ask why questions to understand their perspective
