When I speak of the bloody history of Central America, I am referring to the Pipil. My native Salvadoran staff explained that the vast majority of Salvadorans are descendants of the Pipil Guardians. Bill Fowler the noted anthropologist wrote, " Pipil men served as part-time soldiers, and they were among the fiercest warriors that Alvarado met in the conquest of Central America. Warfare was endemic in south eastern Mesoamerica during the Postclassic period, and, of course, it was through armed conflict that the Pipil dislodged resident populations and seized territory. Warfare for the Pipils, as for most ancient Mesoamericans, was an expression of political force and an important means of social mobility. Military orders were powerful social and political institutions through which highly specialized warriors achieved fame and recognition The Pipil heritage of most Salvadorans is evidenced by their culture which remains indelible in El Salvador."
My Savadoran friends told me that violence has always been prevalent in El Salvador long before the civil war and any North American ever set foot in the country. Once you understand the Pipil culture it also puts the rise of MS 13 in an entirely different light, now doesn't it.