First Published: Unity, Vol. 1, No. 1, September 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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This is the first issue of Unity. This editorial will introduce the newspaper by presenting its general purpose and tasks at this time.
Unity is the political organ of the League of Revolutionary Struggle (Marxist-Leninist). It will present the views of the League.
Communist newspapers in the U.S. to-day have an important role in disseminating revolutionary perspectives and ideas, and clarifying issues in the communist movement. We hope that Unity can contribute to these tasks by becoming an educating and organizing tool. In these ways, we hope that Unity can help advance the struggle to forge a single, unified communist party in the U.S. to lead the working class, and to make the socialist revolution.
To be an educating tool, we see that Unity will have to do several things.
The newspaper will strive to analyze the concrete conditions in the U.S. and the world on the stand and viewpoint of Marxism- Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought. This theory is the essential foundation and guide for developing a deep and scientific analysis of society and revolution.
Unity will try to provide timely and thorough analysis of a wide variety of issues. It will try to keep abreast of important developments in the international and domestic situations. In regard to world events, there will be articles analyzing the struggles of the peoples and countries of Africa, of Latin America and the rest of the third world. There will also be coverage of the situation in Europe and the other second world countries. The newspaper will make an effort to reflect the mounting struggles of the world’s people against the oppression and aggressive ambitions of the two superpowers, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. At the same time, the paper will try to bring out the developments in the relations between the two superpowers. The competition of the two to achieve world domination is leading toward the outbreak of a new world war.
Unity will pay close attention to the current growing upsurge of the mass movements in the U.S. The workers movement is developing very actively, as shown in the widespread outbreak of strikes and other struggles, including the nationwide postal workers struggle for a decent contract, and last winter’s 109 day national coal strike. The movements of the oppressed nationalities too are heightening, as represented in the widespread struggles against police murders like those in the Southwest and New York City, the nationwide movement against the Bakke Decision and other struggles. Unity will also strive to analyze the deepening crisis of U.S. imperialism, and its concrete manifestations and implications for the masses.
Unity will also provide regular coverage of developments in the People’s Republic of China, to bring out its great achievements in socialist revolution and construction.
Another important task of the newspaper will be to help disseminate the theory of Marxism-Leninism, and encourage its systematic study by Unity’s readers. We plan to publish a study column on Marxist-Leninist theory. The first series of study will be on Chairman Mao’s theory of the three worlds. Chairman Mao’s theory of the three worlds defines the main forces in the world arena and is a guide for revolutionaries in all countries in carrying out their struggles.
As an educating tool, Unity will carry both agitational and propaganda type articles. The agitational articles will focus around a single event, idea or issue. These articles aim to arouse the anger of the masses at the outrages of the capitalist system. The propaganda-type articles will try to make a more thorough, all-sided analysis of different questions and issues, to bring out the motion and inter-relationship of the different forces in the revolution. Combining the use of both types of articles, Unity can be used to help give a comprehensive picture of society to help raise the political consciousness of the masses.
Unity will also carry the League’s views on the different questions which arise in the communist movement. In this way we hope that the newspaper can help in the clarification of issues and the development of a revolutionary line for the struggle.
Unity aims to reach the revolutionary-minded activists of the mass movements. These activists are important to reach, as they are more open to communist ideas and play a decisive role in leading the mass movements. At the same time, Unity will be distributed in the broadest possible way, in order to have the widest possible influence among the masses.
Recognizing the existence of a number of oppressed nationalities in the U.S. who have their own languages, Unity will be published regularly and fully in English, Spanish and Chinese. Unity will be the only communist paper in the U. S. to publish in three languages. We will also soon begin publishing selected articles in Japanese and will work to expand our publication to other languages as soon as possible. Through these different language publications we are striving to carry out the principle of equality of languages and nationalities. It will enable the paper to reach out in a broader way, contribute to fighting national oppression, and help forge the unity of this multi-national working class.
Overall, we hope that Unity can become a valuable weapon in the work of revolutionaries, in disseminating communist ideas, and initiating discussions with workers.
A communist newspaper not only is used to help raise the political thinking of the masses. It should also serve to assist revolutionary activists in giving leadership to mass struggles and be a concrete organizing tool.
Unity will strive to work in close connection with activists to develop articles which help provide direction for the mass movements. We also plan to publish summations of the work of the League and of others, to share the lessons gained from different mass struggles. In these ways, the newspaper can help train communists and. activists to become leaders of the mass movements.
Unity will also establish a network of supporters and sympathizers throughout the country. Unity will begin immediately to establish contacts in most of the major cities in the U.S. and start to develop regular correspondents in factories, communities, and schools in these areas. The local and regional correspondents will help by submitting first-hand information and writing articles to bring out the concrete conditions and struggles of the masses. The system of correspondents will enable the paper to keep in close touch with the daily lives of the workers and oppressed masses, expose the outrages and abuses they face under capitalism, and promote their struggles. In this way, Unity can become more timely, concrete and useful.
The newspaper network will also consist of distributors who will get the paper out to the masses in every part of the country, and help to expand the paper’s readership. The network will take up distributing Unity in the factories and plants, on the streets; in the working class and oppressed nationality communities, and on the campuses. Distribution inside the factories will be a particularly important way of getting the paper out directly to the working class.
The network will include financial sustainers, whose donations are necessary to help keep Unity coming out regularly.
The network will facilitate wide soliciting of photographic work, cultural pieces, and research material for the paper.
The newspaper network will be an important way to utilize the resourcefulness of the masses in an organized way, to better serve the struggle for socialism.
This fall, Unity will begin publishing twice monthly, to provide more timely and greater coverage of current events. Unity is launching a mass subscription drive and sustainer drive to expand the readership and raise funds for Unity, and to facilitate the plans for a bi-weekly Unity.
We encourage our readers to send in letters, comments and suggestions on the newspaper – on its contents, use, distribution and other aspects – to help Unity develop its positive aspects and correct its shortcomings. These are essential in order that Unity can continually improve.
Unity is beginning publication at a time when great demands are being placed upon all Marxist-Leninists in the U.S. Party building remains the central task today. At this time, the Marxist-Leninist movement is still comprised of a number of distinct communist groups, several of which have their own publications putting forth their views. The task of uniting Marxist-Leninists and forging a single, unified communist party continues. It is our hope that Unity can contribute to this task. Unity will strive to participate in putting forth our views on issues raised in the communist press. We also hope that Unity can advance communist work by propagating revolutionary ideas and helping to establish more ties with the masses. In these different ways, Unity will strive to do all it can to advance the revolution and forge Marxist-Leninist unity.