Our colleague, NYU professor Robert Cohen, recently found a letter dated October 28, 1984, from Ron Kovic to Howard Zinn in the Tamiment Archives.
Ron Kovic is an anti-war activist and author. He was wounded and paralyzed in the Vietnam War. His best selling 1976 memoir, Born on the Fourth of July, was made into a film of the same name by Oliver Stone.
Here is an excerpt of the letter he wrote to Zinn on the “future of our country.”
I am committed to this road that we are walking on together to this new country and new world which will become a reality some day I am certain. I can see that new country coming. I can feel it sometimes late at night as I get out of my wheelchair into my bed and prepare my body for another night’s sleep. Even with all that I have lost in that war — I can hear the wounds, the rumble of that new day.
I can hear those new voices of faith, cooperation, and community, of health and of happiness, of decency and freedom, of justice and kindness, of caring and concern, of love. And I can feel a new democracy coming, a new freedom of expression where people are no longer afraid to speak out.
Speak from their hearts, from the very depths of their souls. Say what it really is to live in America. And to say it loudly and clearly! And to keep on saying it until the changes begin to occur. Until each and everyone of them is listened to and respected until they are empowered, given strength and confidence.
Read the full letter below. Click on each image to enlarge.
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