Solidarity In Gregory Boyle's Tattos On The Heart

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In the simplest words of Dorothy Day, “We cannot live alone. We cannot go to heaven alone. Otherwise, as Péguy said, God will say to us, ‘Where are the others?’” (Day, p. 91). This statement reflects the need for all Christians and humans alike to unite and work together toward going to heaven. Such acts of solidarity come in many forms ranging from harmony with our neighbors, the poor, the vulnerable, the suffering, or a unity for peace and love for all. Acts for solidarity are so widespread that through the writings of Dorothy Day, Pope Francis, Bernard Brady, Richard Gula, and Gregory Boyle, their plentiful experiences and calls of action for camaraderie in society suggest that solidarity is the primary goal for those Christians striving …show more content…

For example, Father Boyle tells of a time when “Wetback Church” was spray painted on a church where he was going for a meeting (Boyle, p. 71). Instead of being angry, the women of the church turned the situation positive saying, “‘You will not clean this up. If there are people in our community who are disparage and hated and left out because they are mojados (wetbacks)… Then we shall be proud to call ourselves a wetback church’” (Boyle, p. 72). Thus, they stood firm together and did not let others put them down. The women helped form solidarity among the church and “chose a oneness in kinship and a willingness to live in others’ hearts” (Boyle, p. 72). Since, Homeboy Industries was in the heart of Los Angeles, homies often worked with members of rival gangs. For instance, Clever and Travieso are known enemies that work together, but when Travieso is killed, Clever’s true feelings are released. He tells Father Boyle, “‘He…was…not…my…enemy. He was my friend. We…worked tougher’” (Boyle, p. 145). This example shows that enemies to the community were actually “friends” at heart; they found a common connection in their work, and could look past their differences. Father Boyle’s work with homies shows that solidarity is possible even in the most violent

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