Theme Of Responsibility And Standing In Solidarity

Taking responsibility and standing in solidarity with a community are two concepts that can be translated into a variety of situations. In the movie “The Mission,” enslaved Guarani Indians in Latin America are converted to Christianity by way of a Jesuit missionary, Father Gabriel. In complex scenes of the movie, Father Gabriel is seen engaging with the Guarani and being accountable for the Guarani during the most intense moments of the movies. In “A Call to Virtue: Living the Gospel in the Land of Liberty,” Jeffrey Sachs argues that rights and responsibilities go hand-in-hand and that standing in solidarity with your community is an essential element of a well-run society. The themes of responsibility and standing in solidarity with communities
Although the Guarani Indians are not initially receptive to the change, Father Gabriel is perseverant in trying to convert them. He uses his instrumental talent to engage with the Guarani, and his method ultimately works. Father Gabriel also serves as another stellar testament to the theme of responsibility when he comes to the aid of Rodrigo Mendoza, a slave trader, when Mendoza kills the man his fiance is cheating with. Although Mendoza’s decisions to be a slave trader and kill his fiance’s lover are grave sins, Father Gabriel still takes responsibility and encourages Mendoza to serve penance for his sins. With continuous effort,
In “The Mission” when the colonial men of Portuguese want to enslave the Guarani, a Papal Cardinal is sent to evaluate the situation. The Cardinal has to decide whether the mission should continue to go on, or if it is the Portuguese's right to enslave the native people. While this decision is underway, Father Gabriel and Mendoza continue to work diligently with the Guarani. Regardless of if the colonists were to attack, Father Gabriel and Mendoza protect the mission for the Guarani. This moment of standing in solidarity with community is followed by another powerful instance of Father Gabriel supporting the Guarani community no matter the circumstances. Towards the end of “The Mission,” unfortunately, the colonists attack the Guarani Indians’ sanctuary and surrounding areas. While Father Gabriel knows he has the chance of being killed, he literally stands in solidarity outside of the burning sanctuary with the rest of the Guarani. This powerful image at the end of the movie visibly shows the importance of supporting your community. Likewise, Jeffrey Sachs emphasizes the Church teaching that “an individual’s happiness can be achieved only in solidarity with the community.” He gives the example that the idea of virtue has been “privatized, individualized, and increasingly commercialized.” Sachs continues on to say, “In the name of individual rights, the poor are