The RNC, 1972, Miami Beach -- What Did We Face Then?

DOES HISTORY MATTER? WHAT WAS THE RNC LIKE IN 1972 WHEN WE PROTESTED NIXON & THE VIETNAM WAR?

By Diane Ford Wood

In 2005, a group of Vietnam veterans worked with me to produce "Camouflage & Lace: My Journey with a Windbender." a 2 CD audiobook available at cdbaby.com/camo. Vietnam-era vet Russ Scheidler arranged the music; I wrote the words and music, read the story and sang the songs.

In a sense, it is the testimony of a young woman learning about all things political through her love affair with a west coast leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

"Camo," as we call it is a true story. Very few people have heard it when it came out, and we just couldn't figure out why. Was it the times? People fully ensconsed in the Bush world? Don't the veterans of tfamilies. The cost to ourselves?

Doesn't anyone today want to know what it was like to face the military, police and national guard on the streets of Miami in 1972? About what came before -- the trial, trevail and solutions associated with fighting unjust wars? The cost to society and ourselves?

We think the answer is yes, but somehow the media set aside their copies and we just have the feeling that no one really listened.

There are copies in many archives around the country, and someday people may listen when the story (and the pain) is just a little more distant than now.

Please buy one and share it with your friends. Don't expect a cold, academic account of what happened. We tried to tell the story as it happened, without trying to make ourselves look better or the authorities worse. The story is the story, please judge for yourself.

To close, here are some reviews of the project. And to all of you who put your lives, hearts and minds on the streets of Saint Paul -- not to mention overseas -- we thank you deeply.

Love,
Diane Wood

"Beautiful Composition & Moving Memoir," reviewed by Jerry Lembcke, Author of "Spitting Image": Camouflage & Lace is a beautiful composition, a combination of love letter and moving memoir about a piece of VVAW history. The music is wonderful.

"Lively, Insightful & Heartwarming!" reviewed by Gerald Nicosia, Author of "Home to War": Diane Wood's CAMOUFLAGE AND LACE is a lively, insightful, and heartwarming story of the Vietnam veterans' movement through the eyes and voice of a woman. Wood shows how the movement touched and transformed an all-American girl and turned her into a committed activist. But it is also the tragic story of how love and activism don't mix well, and how the pain that drives activism--especially the activism of war veterans--is almost certain to destroy the very friendships and love relationships so necessary to war's healing. Wood keeps the story moving with an array of personal, witty, and poignant songs, which will stick in your head long after the CD is over.

"Very Engergizing. A Tremendous Work" reviewed by Terry DuBose, Former VVAW TX Reg. Coordinator: This is an amazing piece of work...I will be ordering more. You captured the feel of the early VVAW actions (Xmas71, RAW) better than anything I have run across yet. Makes me wish I had been at the Last Patrol instead of going back to school. It was very energizing, thank you very much, it is obviously a tremendous work.

"Angel of Peace," reviewed by Gerry Binder, Australian Vets for Peace: It's me who's overwhelmed -- after just reading/hearing the snippets on your website, to me you are an angel of peace. I cried. And I'm an agnostic!

"A Political Awakening!" reviewed by Frank A. St. Paul: I think CAMOUFLAGE & LACE is terrific! Taking as huge a canvas as the Vietnam era and filtering it through your own experiences as a young woman going through her political awakening worked really well, and was something that hasn't been done to death. Definitely something I will listen to again.

"Leaves Us Longing For More!": reviewed by WTH, Vietnam Vet: ...A story of revolution, history, courage, strength, and incredible human vulnerability and weakness...and one of the greatest love stories anyone could ever imagine, or sing about. You have captured some very poignant moments from a very volatile and important time in history. It most certainly leaves the listener longing for more.

"Emotional, Personal, Beautiful", reviewed by Chris McGowan, Minneapolis Screenwriter: I listened to "Camouflage and Lace" this weekend. Very powerful, emotional, personal and beautiful! Really a wonderful piece of work. CONGRATULATIONS! I can't wait to hear more about the project.

"A Woman on the Front Lines: reviewed by A Secret Admirer and Vietnam Vet: You have persevered through thirty years of struggle. All of your perseverance is now a moment of beauty and light (in the form of Camoflauge & Lace) ready to show the treasure of self realization, and the power of the struggle for self determination, through the eyes and from the heart of a woman who was actually on the front lines.

"HEAR IT - SMELL IT - FEEL IT!: Reviewed by "Bad Bill": This is so powerful that by taking out the time, closing your eyes and listening without distraction; it is like traveling through a wormhole back in time to the moments that Diane is describing in word and song. It takes you there...you can hear it, smell it, and feel it. If you were there during these times you will be there again. It lends validation to an important and heroic movement. If you weren't there in those days, then as a listener; you will experience a lesson in true love, adventure, history, and patriotism. This is the tip of the iceberg of an important part of our modern history..both factual and political. Diane has the soul of a White Dove...her music is alive, and her message is powerful...and peaceful. My soul is quieter and more restive, thanks to this artfully produced experience. Thank you, Diane.