As the saying went, El Salvador is Spanish for Vietnam.
-- Lupe Castillo (Spanish for Vietnam)

Importance: The comparison draws a parallel between the Salvadoran civil war and the Vietnam War, emphasizing the shared characteristics of U.S. intervention in both conflicts. In each case, America supported right-wing regimes as part of its Cold War strategy to combat communism, leading to devastating consequences for local populations. These interventions resulted in widespread violence, human rights abuses, and mass displacement, leaving lasting scars on the affected nations. The analogy critiques the cyclical nature of such foreign policies, highlighting how they destabilize countries while prioritizing geopolitical interests over human lives. By linking these two wars, the statement reveals the universality of suffering in conflicts driven by external powers and situates the Salvadoran experience within a broader history of imperialism and resistance.

That night, Juan slept outside under the mango tree where he used to hide out as a boy when...
-- Juan Romagoza (They Don't Even Let You Fuck In Peace)