Do not honor that murdering conquistador, Mami. Words have power. Words are political statements.
-- Martina (I thank the Virgin, morena like me... paragraph 1)

Importance: Martina and Magda have very different ideas of what is acceptable behavior from men, and it is a source of tension in their relationship. Martina has not had yet learned the truth behind the adage "that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar" as Magda has, and as such, she is considerably less patient with men than her mother. What Martina has absorbed from her mother however, is an understanding of the value of being specific with word choice and language usage, as is highlighted here.

If I could pass everything to her, she could begin with what I had endured long to learn. She could begin with strength.
-- Magda (I thank the Virgin, morena like me... paragraph 3)

Importance: Like most parents, Magda wants a better life for her children than she had, but more than that, she specifically wants her daughters to learn...