Mrs. Kovic Quotes in Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Mrs. Kovic: [almost sobbing] Don't say penis in this house!

Ron Kovic: Penis! Penis! Big fucking erect penis, Mom!

Mrs. Kovic: [enters the room, beaming] Ronnie, Ronnie, you're doing the right thing! Communism has to be stopped! It's God's will that you go, and I'm proud of you.

[gently pats his shoulder]

Mrs. Kovic: Just be careful, that's all.

[pause]

Ron Kovic: Don't you know what it means to me to be a Marine, Dad? Ever since I was a kid I've wanted this - I've wanted to serve my country - and I want to go. I want to go to Vietnam - and I'll die there if I have to.

Ron Kovic: We went to Vietnam to stop communism!... We shell women and children!

Mrs. Kovic: You didn't shoot women and children! What are you saying?

Ron Kovic: That was the war, communism, the incidious evil! They told us to go.

Mrs. Kovic: Yes, yes that's what they told us.

Ron Kovic: Thou shalt not kill, Mom. Thou shalt not kill women and children! Thou shalt not kill! Remember? Isn't that what you taught us? Isn't that what they taught us?

Mrs. Kovic: Stop it! Stop it!

Ron Kovic: They burned the flag and they demonstrated against us; it's on the cover of the paper today. They have no respect. They have no idea what's going on over there, Mom - the men that are sacrificing their lives. People are dying every day over there, and nobody back here even seems to care. It's a bunch of goddamn shit if you ask me!

Mrs. Kovic: Ronnie, don't take the Lord's name in vain - not in front of the children. I agree with everything you say!

Ron Kovic: I served my country - and they just want to take from it - just take, take! Love it or leave it, that's what I think.