Varying Perspectives

MS-13 Perspectives

The three perspectives that are mainly looked at within a conflict like this is the gang themselves, the government, and the people. Each of these groups of people has a perspective on the deadly gang violence that MS-13 is taking part of.

            As told before, the reason that Mara Salvatrucha was created was because of the violence other rival gangs that already controlled L.A. where inflicting upon the new immigrants of El Salvador, as well as other Hispanics. MS-13's actions were justified in the early years of their activity, simply because it was more of a matter of protecting their own kind from gangs around the city, rather than growing an empire and obtaining complete power. They grew in numbers throughout time, being able to protect more and more Hispanic civilians. 

          Another big factor that might have influenced MS-13 was  United States involvement during the Civil War in El Salvador. President Carter and President Reagan did not support the rebels, but instead the El Salvadorian government simply because the FMLFN was a communist party. They sent both troops, and weapons to assist the government’s slaughter. Also, thousands began to immigrate to the United States; the government actually found Salvadorians that immigrated, and deported them back to their home conflicts. A statement from the United States government reads, “...Military and economic aid to El Salvador was 3 billion dollars since 1980. Two-thirds of the 750,000 people who fled El Salvador ended up in the U.S.: many were deported back to join the imprisoned or the disappeared.” This simply states that the United States deported Salvadorians, who soon met their fate; death or disappearance. This can be seen as an incentive on the actions of MS-13; to enact revenge on the country that assisted the corrupt government in their home country.

            The governments of over a dozen countries continue to attempt to put an end to the violent acts of MS-13. Their perspectives relate to the murders, the drugs and the illegal immigrants that roam their countries; mainly the U.S. The United States has been plagued with the violence from MS-13 for decades. The drugs that they smuggle into the country spread like wildfire. They believe that MS-13 should be eliminated because of the constant murders that occur. From killing a 17-year old pregnant informant, to murdering a 19-year-old mother and her 2-year-old in cold blood, their crimes have poisoned the economy of the U.S., as well as other countries. Their perspectives are understood because the countless murders that are performed in these countries wastes taxpayers money, and it also takes away the life of an American, and it also installs fear in every other American as well. It also fills the streets with drugs, illegal immigrants, and weapons, which in turn increases crime rates throughout the country. It is simply one issue after another that the government must deal with.