Word of the Day: Solidarity
noun: unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
Solidarity is one of the most important concepts when you are working for social change. It is a vital concept when you are working to build communities. It means finding your common ground, and supporting each other in those areas where you can agree. It does not always mean that you agree with each other one hundred percent, but that you agree sufficiently to work together and support each other.
Solidarity is standing together for a cause. Sometimes it is a common cause. Sometimes it is an ally’s cause. Sometimes it is your cause.
Sometimes it means opening your mouth when someone is abusive or oppressive.
Sometimes it means standing in the soaking rain outside some politician’s house because you want them to know what you think of their voting record.
Sometimes it means standing beside your allies, through thick or thin, even if you think their cause is insane. It might not be your cause, but it is theirs.
Sometimes it means being the only Liberal or leftist in the room, standing beside a Republican who is talking sense, when everyone else is turning him out because he is a Republican (or the other way around).
Sometimes it means ignoring faction lines all together and standing by your fellow man. When a house is being raised, or you have twelve hours to get the harvest in before a storm, who stops to ask if the person beside them is in the same political party?
Sometimes it just means setting your issues aside for a bit to see what someone else needs help getting done.