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Olivier [redacted] [redacted], Tuesday 24th March [redacted] [redacted], FRANCE
Dear Ryan,
This letter may not reach you but if you read it, you can be certain that I'm altogether with you for many reasons. First of all, I think it's a real shame to prevent a 14 years-old boy from learning in a State School because of a "contagious" disease, in your case, the AIDS-which is a" plague" so to speak-For months, we know that only typical contacts are fatal. Your attending school won't turn the Western School into a cemetery! so what's the use to push you apart like a devil? People from Indiana are whether disinformed or lunatic, they become hysterical or what else They are panic-stricken by all what the Medias said as stupidities and moral enhancements. Secondly, you showed to everyone that you were pretty strong, optimist and hope ful concerning your future. You give to people a wonderful sense of what "courage and hope" are for you; I read your sad story in a French weekly and, on the spot, I have been "spellbound" by your lost look. A youth's look to which people forbid to lead a plain life. Scarcely credible for a sensitive person! They have no human rights to refrain you from being a grown-up when you so much want it! This French weekly tries to defend you in a 4-paged talk, it's called "PARIS-MATCH" and it is very popular in my country, it appears to be a good lawyer. The article starts like this "AIDS, this little American kid of whom nobody wants" it goes further with "The innocents' hunt" Every French people is scandalized by what occurs to you, in your State,
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in a country which is quoted as an example of Democracy to Frenchmen. I've been to the U.S.A three times, actually, and I realized that in many cases, people appeared to be narrow minded, back in the old times, setting moral values too high, I was proud to be French, to see French doctors taking care of Aids patients, their hands necked, claming it's not the good way for them to catch the Aids. Your situation would be better if you were a French school-boy; for I've got good grounds for stating this. The disease hit a member of my family last year my step-father who is like you hemophiliac. When my mother-in tears- said to my and my sister that her husband was in conta ct with the Aids, our relationships remained unchanged. He is now out of [redacted] Hospital [redacted] (which has specialized in the Aids cure) and we're still having diner and fun together. For God's thank, the virus is not developing yet, but the thing might wake up, and provoke its damages in his body if he fell seriously sick suddenly. When he read your story, he said to me: "please write him, I can't do it in English to persuade him that we are with him and to tell him that each of my prayers goes to him.."
How dare people from Kokomo push you apart like this? How dare they? They are out of their mind or what? My step-father goes on working everyone knows about him and everyone is so kind and helpful, even the manager! How can clever people-judges, school teachers, pupils' parents-forbid school to you, Ryan, who wants to believe in life, medical research and miracle! I can't find a proper answer. Of course, YOUR A NORMAL KID! my boy, your offen ders are not though and the best example to give them is to f fight unceasslya against the diease to become a famous lawyer they'll be ashamed after!... I'm addressing your mother, now, Mrs White, thank you for courage and fight!! You are the vivid proof of maternal love for all the mothers all around the
2001.5[?].5975[?]
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world. On April, 2nd 1986, I'm sure the judge will allow Ryan to find back his seat in the classroom and therefore to beco me a normal kid who will study law after; we all pray for this, we all!!... Ryan, there is hope for you, the new tests tend to prove that you're getting better and better; the di sease has slowed down, it's a new victory for you. Thousands of people everywhere are encouraging you: you are not lone some! I'm 22 and I live in the [redacted] of [redacted] which is called [redacted], I've got a Tiny 2-roomed apartment and my door is wite opened for you. I know that we don't catch the Aids by giving to someone a little bit of human warmth which he deserves more than ever, be strong Ryan, and keep hope and the certainty that many, many persons are with you, besides you, even if we live far from each other
If you're a stamp collector, I send you a few old French stamps, I dug them out of my stamp album.
Many, many kind regards to you and your Mummy. Olivier
P.S I don't register the letter, the mailman could be frigtened to deliver it to you!!!
