In December 1981 soldiers of the Salvadoran Army's select, American-trained Atlacatl Battalion entered the village of El Mozote, where they murdere...
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Jun 12, 2007
Amanda
rated it: 
the depravity of the US during the Cold War.
The US had one objective in the Cold War: Stop Communism! It did not matter what tactics the governments we gave billions of dollars to used to "secure" that objective - it only mattered that countries in Latin America and Africa fell into non-Communistic hands.
Sign the check and don't ask questions. Don't worry about the death tolls, or who has gone missing. Ignore intelligent reports from El Salvador that say an e More...
The US had one objective in the Cold War: Stop Communism! It did not matter what tactics the governments we gave billions of dollars to used to "secure" that objective - it only mattered that countries in Latin America and Africa fell into non-Communistic hands.
Sign the check and don't ask questions. Don't worry about the death tolls, or who has gone missing. Ignore intelligent reports from El Salvador that say an e More...
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Sep 21, 2010
Addie
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A little under two years ago I witnessed the first ever change of government in El Salvador as the people voted in the leftist FMLN party over ARENA, the rightest who had ruled the country for its entire existence. At the time, I believed that the threat of a leftist Chavez-type victory would be dangerous here in El Salvador. I also believed that the left would bring little of the promised change. Now, I can say that only one of those was actually true. The government has made little changes but
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Jun 26, 2010
Kim
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El Salvador's civil war in the 80s featured a number of massacres. This is the story of one of them. Nearly an entire village is slaughtered over the course of the day. One of the few survivors - few as in less than ten - Rufina Amaya tells portions of the story but the bulk of the book is context of the war in El Salvador and US involvement.
This is not easy reading. People are brutally killed over long periods of time and pages. It is worth reading though for people who are interest More...
This is not easy reading. People are brutally killed over long periods of time and pages. It is worth reading though for people who are interest More...
Aug 01, 2011
Kurt
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When I was a college student, I majored in Latin American Studies, and many of my classes explored the functions of the military in various Central American countries. In my junior year, I joined up with a bus full of strangers from Austin, and we headed to Georgia for an annual protest designed to force the closure of the School of the Americas (later renamed the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation). We gathered early one morning with hundreds of like-minded activists, and we
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Nov 11, 2010
Noel
rated it: 
In sum:
The atrocious, injustice events in Morazan were horrible. But, the story's presentation doesn't earn 4 or 5 stars. The presentation of the story was very choppy.
In Long:
Yes, the events were horrendous, but I think the author did a hasty job in pasting the story of the event. There was no preface to guide readers towards the literary prose of the book. Hence, it was difficult to differentiate who's first person or third person voice was seeping through More...
The atrocious, injustice events in Morazan were horrible. But, the story's presentation doesn't earn 4 or 5 stars. The presentation of the story was very choppy.
In Long:
Yes, the events were horrendous, but I think the author did a hasty job in pasting the story of the event. There was no preface to guide readers towards the literary prose of the book. Hence, it was difficult to differentiate who's first person or third person voice was seeping through More...
Mar 11, 2011
Liana
rated it: 
Extensively investigated and thoroughly detailed, this human rights disaster was brought to my attention only recently for a graduate course in human rights. For this massacre to have happened under the administration of a certain "Gipper" further casts a darkening shadow over the legacy so many people (*cough* conservatives) have been tripping over themselves to praise. What should we protect more? Political ideology or innocent human lives? More attention should be paid to El Salvado
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Jul 30, 2008
Paul
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This book looks at a forgotten bit of the Cold War in 1980s Central America. In December, 1981, a US-trained battalion of the army of El Salvador entered the town of El Mozote, and surrounding hamlets, and systematically murdered everyone; over 700 people were killed.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Salvadoran army was in bad shape. There were numerous examples of guerrillas joining the army to get some military training, then intentionally deserting to join the rebels. The army was poorl More...
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Salvadoran army was in bad shape. There were numerous examples of guerrillas joining the army to get some military training, then intentionally deserting to join the rebels. The army was poorl More...
Jun 03, 2009
Nathan
rated it:
I read this book as research for something I'm writing, having long ago read a chapter of it in the back seat of a friend's car while traveling in Guatemala. The book is essentially investigative journalism that attempts to uncover what actually happened in a small El Salvadoran village during the civil war. The writing is crisp and smart and the long chapter describing the massacre was terrible and vivid and painful to read (that's the chapter I read years ago in the back of my friend's car,
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Nov 30, 2008
Emily
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I learned a lot of very unpleasant details of that massacre, and also a lot about its context. I picked it up in Georgia at the School of the Americas vigil, and it put me in appropriately morose spirits for the event.
My favorite part was a description of Radio Venceremos, a pirate radio station for campesinos and guerillas in El Salvador, particularly those affiliated with the FMLN. Made me better appreciate the awesome power of that medium.
My favorite part was a description of Radio Venceremos, a pirate radio station for campesinos and guerillas in El Salvador, particularly those affiliated with the FMLN. Made me better appreciate the awesome power of that medium.
Mar 11, 2009
Scott
rated it:
Damn. Reading books like this just make me hate Reagan more than ever. I'm used to reading about atrocities, but sometimes this was hard to get through. I really appreciate the thoroughness of Danner's account and the way he really takes the U.S. to task for both its aiding of the Salvadoran regime and its pathetic attempt to investigate the massacre. The one thing I would have liked more of was a political backgrounder on the situation.
Aug 26, 2008
John
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I feel somewhat mixed about how much I liked this book given its extremely grave subject matter--a massacre of near 800 people in a small town in El Salvador during the early days of the civil war here.
The author successfully puts the massacre in its context within the cold war and specifically, within the politics at the time in the USA which heavily supported and trained the battalion that commited this massacre.
With only about 200 pages of text before the notes and an More...
The author successfully puts the massacre in its context within the cold war and specifically, within the politics at the time in the USA which heavily supported and trained the battalion that commited this massacre.
With only about 200 pages of text before the notes and an More...
Feb 28, 2009
This is an excellent book about a horrendous event. It made me ache for humanity and feel sick at the evil humans can do to each other. The writing and sources are very high quality, but I don't recommend this book for those with a sensitive spirit or who don't have a strong stomach for violence.
Jan 24, 2009
César
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this is a fascinating account of the most notorious massacre of el salvador's decade-long civil war. there is nothing uplifting about this book, but its historical value is immense--especially its emphasis on the role of the reagan administration in funding and providing political support to the right-wing government of el salvador.
Dec 09, 2008
Liz
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This is a book of truth that was covered up by the powers that be. About one of the many tragic consequences of Regan's war in El Salvador. For those who love foreign relations and hhistory and hate how our representatives use war as a ploy for their own misguided agendas.
Jan 14, 2009
Suzanne
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This book is a brief, earnest approach to explaining the massacre that happened at El Mezote (El Salvador) in the early 1980's, a microcosm representing overall United States-supported injustices toward the less capitalized, poorer parts of Latin/South America.
Sep 24, 2011
Clea
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I had to read this for a class, but I'm glad I did. The quality of the reporting is impeccable, and it's an engaging, fast read. It also made me want to quit humanity forever, which is to be expected considering the subject matter.
Sep 20, 2010
Beatríz
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I've heard so much about my family's history, the bloodshed and the tragedies-it was hard to see it in print. But it's very important to know your history and I cried and it inspired me to learn more!
Nov 07, 2009
Gustavo
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I've read this book on numerous occasions. It's so unbelievable at the atrocities mankind can take part. It is even more saddening what our government indirectly sponsors.
Jul 29, 2011
Engaging writing style, reflective of the fact that the book is expanded from a long magazine article. Lots of documents reprinted in full as appendices.
Jul 11, 2011
Judith
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The 10,000 Maniacs song, "Please Forgive Us" was the soundtrack in my head as I read this. Thanks, Claudia. Great suggestion
Nov 11, 2010
Christie
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I love journalistic styled writing, so I found this book enthralling. It was extremely sad though.
Mar 22, 2009
Jessica
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not the best writing, but scary enough to delve into the dark world of war and violence
Aug 05, 2011
D.
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Short but not too short account of this tragedy. Every story deserves a telling like this.
Dec 17, 2009
Eleanore
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This is an incredibly moving book that I would recommend to anyone. The story is gruesome and at times very hard to take, but it needs to be exposed. The kind of brutality that existed and still exists in many other parts of the world cannot be ignored, nor can the active role of the U.S. in many of these atrocities. Read this with a buddy, because you will need someone to talk about this with.
Jul 12, 2007
Dani
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This book was a journalistic look into the events leading up to the masscare at El Mozote in December of 1981. Though the jargon was a bit boring at times, overall, to know that such a large-scale massacre almost slipped through the cracks is just amazing. Thanks to the efforts of the sole survivor, Rufina Amaya (may she rest in peace), this story will not be forgotten.
Jan 02, 2008
Walker
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This book stirs alot of emotion, especially for those of us who were affected by the war in El Salvador. Can you believe one woman survived when an entire village was massacred? The perpetrators turned out to be Atlacatl batallion, trained at School of the Americas, complements of the US taxpayer and our illustrious political elite.
