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Evan Belk

Professor Zapata

CAS 115

19 October, 2018

Love your Neighbor

“...After…” by Carolina Escamilla is a book full of short stories centering around a girl named

Dalia who is living in El Salvador during its Civil War in the 1980s. They take place in a variety of

contexts and at different points throughout her life. One of the stories included, titled “The

White-Dress-Uniform-Girls”, recounts Dalia’s families’ hostile relationship with another family living

down their street that centers around their differing political viewpoints. The title of the work refers to the

white school uniforms that Dalia uses to identify the daughters of the other family. Aside from clothing,

some other things that differentiate this family from Dalia’s include the school their children attend, their

access to media or entertainment, their complexion, and their involvement in the military. Dalia’s family

on the other hand, when described in an insulting way by one of the “white dress uniform girls”, is said to

have too many children, lack of hygiene or proper clothing, and access to only poor education. They are

also, according to Dalia, known in the neighborhood as political leftists. These differences, although roots

of the conflict lie in political territory, end up fueling the hatred between the two throughout the story. A

hatred involving the parents of both, and as a result, also the children who only know to see the examples

set for them by their elders.

The main issue highlighted by Escamilla throughout this story is that a country divided

politically, such as El Salvador at this time, can create divisions in its citizens who feel they have to take

one side over another. This is clearly the basis of the conflict between the families in “The

White-Dress-Uniform-Girls”, as is touched upon in the harsh words of Dalia’s drunken father when he

yells at the other family: “‘The military has left you guys anemic. They have sucked out all your
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blood...anemic sons of bitches.’” (Escamilla, 147). Through these insults, Dalia’s father not only mentions

the military, but also calls the other family “anemic” in reference to their lighter skin complexion. The

differences in political affiliation have gotten to a point where the families simply feel a need to insult one

another on things completely unrelated to their differing viewpoints. This hostility is reciprocated by

Claudia, the mother of the other family, yelling with the with people she gathered to throw stones or trash

at Dalia’s home: “‘Savages, your parents and you will all burn in hell.’” (Escamilla, 149). In this example

politics are not even mentioned, only the idea that Dalia and her family are “savages”, likely in reference

their mannerisms and appearance which are a direct result of their poor living conditions. The political

climate in El Salvador at the time simply served to accentuate the differences in social class existing

between families, causing them to be hostile and uncivil towards one another in regards to things that did

not have as much to do with the government or military; like the way they dress or what school they

attend. Such things that may not have been such a barrier to kind relations between families in the past,

became further excuses to torment one another.

As an American growing up in the 21st century, I have personally never experienced a situation

in my country even close to the level that El Salvador had at this time. One thing that I have observed,

however, is that we as American citizens will make many assumptions and search for conflict between

ourselves and those who are in different political parties than us, even on non-political terms. I also know

that there are ways to get around this conflict, even though we live in a fairly divided country when it

comes to political party affiliations. I live with my family in the very liberal town of Davis California.

Our relatives live in the much more conservative and rural town of McDonald Pennsylvania. We both

have very different political views, and, simply based on where we are located, very different lifestyles.

Both families have acknowledged these facts but are able to get along well whenever we see each other,

laughing, talking, and and enjoying each others company. Even if a conversation related to politics

somehow comes up in our time together, we either choose not to talk about it, or we engage in a civil
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discussion, not bringing anything into the realm of the conversation outside from the relevant subject

matter. I do believe that it is completely possible for two families living different lifestyles and with

different viewpoints to treat each other civilly. I believe it because I have seen it done with my family as

the example.

The connection between the relations within my family tree and “The

White-Dress-Uniform-Girls” short story by Carolina Escamilla is an important one. While occurring in

vastly different societies and political climates, Dalia’s story and mine alike both feature two families

with different viewpoints and lifestyles. In Dalia’s case, what started as political disagreement morphed

into an entire family feud, concerning many matters far outside the scope of politics. In my case, while

also involving families with differing views and ways of living, both were able to get along and are still

able to today, simply through being respectful of one another and choosing to look past their differences.

In his article “Do you know how to get along with others?”, Dr. F.A. Moss claims that “In no trait to

people differ more than in their ability to get along with others [...] social intelligence is one of the most

important elements making for success”. Indeed, this ability if present yields much more successful

communication between people. Celeste Headlee also said in her article “How to talk about politics

constructively”, that “Respect is more important than tolerance. To respect another person is to refrain

from calling them names, discounting their ideas or using frequent interruptions to talk over them or

perplex them”​.​ If we as a world somehow achieved a state of respect and understanding for one another,

we could all be much more unified and focus on our similarities rather than differences. This would

ultimately create a much more peaceful world than the one in which we are currently living.
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Works Cited

● Escamilla, Carolina Rivera. ​... After ...: a Collection of Stories.​ World Stage Press, 2015.

● Moss, F. A. “Do You Know How to Get Along with People?” ​Scientific American​, vol. 135, no. 1,

1926, pp. 26–27., ​www.jstor.org/stable/24976721​.

● “How to Talk about Politics Constructively.” ​Ideas.ted.com​, 21 Oct. 2016,

ideas.ted.com/how-to-talk-about-politics-constructively/.