The last print edition of Vanguard

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by Duncan B.

As someone who has been a reader of Vanguard and a contributor for many years I can’t help feeling a twinge of sadness that this is the last print edition of Vanguard.

I understand the issues with finances and human and other resources that have necessitated the change to a solely on-line version of Vanguard. 

One benefit of the on-line format is that Vanguard will be able to react quicker to the fast-changing world situation, instead of being overtaken by events.

I still have a copy of the very first Vanguard published over fifty-one years ago in September 1963. It is interesting to read the editorial of the first Vanguard.

Under the heading “Why Vanguard is Published”, the editorial says, “The publication of Vanguard is an historic event. It is now the only paper which upholds the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism. The paper has a big and noble job to do. Its main task will be to give a Marxist-Leninist analysis of the major events of our time.”

Vanguard has continued to give this Marxist-Leninist analysis of world and Australian events since 1963.

The editorial of the second Vanguard, published in October 1963, elaborated on the role of Vanguard. It said, “In essence, the task before Vanguard and its supporters is to make Marxism-Leninism the property of the masses so that the people can distinguish what is right and wrong for themselves.

“Vanguard will not merely report events. It cannot cover all the day-to-day struggles of the working people.

“But in the light of Marxism-Leninism it will attempt to analyse all the main events affecting the working people so that correct conclusions can be drawn as a starting-off point for further action.

“In the process of generalising experience theoretically the people will learn, from life and in struggle, the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism and how to apply it to particular, concrete situations.”

This is as true today as it was when written back in 1963. Vanguard has tried very hard since then to help the Australian people to learn the truth of Marxism-Leninism. In its on-line format Vanguard will continue the “big and noble job” it started in 1963.

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