During dangerous treks to America,
migrants generally have a lack of trust towards others. Fear of theft, injury,
and deception lead many travelers such as Enrique to caution those around them.
However, the common aspirations of the migrants bring them together to create
a sense of community. The travelers fear gangs and bandits for their violent
and malevolent natures, but there is a level of protection found within the
groups. On Enrique’s first Journey, he encounters a member of the MS Gang named
El Brujo. “Enrique doesn’t like gangs. But as the two spent hours traveling
through Honduras and Guatemala together,
they became friends” (Nazario 85). Enrique gained protection from the MS gang
which allowed him to travel farther in less fear. Though he did not agree with
their lifestyle, they created an alliance because of their common journey. This
community, though violent, does offer a sense of protection in numbers and
power. That kind of safety is valuable to all travelers.
In fear, some migrants band
together in times of need also creating a strong sense of alliance. Common fear
also creates a stronger community, and random acts of kindness give hope to
those on the road. A young boy trying to
board a train grasps onto the ladder but is unable to pull himself up. Seconds
from being sucked beneath the merciless wheels, “the men crawl down and reach
for him. Slowly, they lift him up. The rungs batter his legs, but he is alive.
He still has his feet” (67). All fighting for the same chance to live in the United
States, the migrants come together through a rescue that put their
own lives in danger. Traveling independently can be risky for innocent
migrants, so it is important for them to help each other. These other migrants
symbolize family that travelers have so often left behind, and they realize that the
trek is much harder without help from others. The journey north is sewn with
seeds of danger, but from that danger blossoms a sense of community. Have you
ever been in a situation where you were scared and sought others for comfort or
help to persevere?
I think its interesting that a longing for companionship will always be present in our human nature, even in the most unlikely situations. Most people find comfort in the idea that they are not the only ones going through a tough situation, and Enrique on his voyage is a great example of this. Everyone at some time in their life has relied on friends, family, teammates, or even strangers to find common ground that they can relate on whether that be a common goal, out of fear as you pointed out, or sometimes mutual loneliness or emotions. A sense of community and a sense of comfort is something that is so underrated and even taken for granted, but we all need it to survive and rely on community and companionship daily. To answer your question, I cannot think of just one time where I relied on others for comfort or company because I do it daily, and I think most people do as well without realizing it.
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