Meditations on Why Being Human is Political

Growing up, my family didn’t talk about politics at the dinner table. My parents were focused on survival—putting food on the table, working long hours, and making sure I had the tools to succeed. We lived in a small Ukrainian town of about 300,000 people with limited job and educational opportunities. Politics felt distant, and my family’s deep distrust of the government, rooted in the oppression of the Soviet era, meant they didn’t believe their voice truly mattered.

One of the first revolutions in independent Ukraine happened in 2004; I was around five years old and had no recollection of how we participated in it. I don’t remember how the world crisis of 2008 impacted us, and all the credit goes to my parents, who shielded me from any stress they were experiencing. Then, the Maidan Uprising happened in 2013, eventually leading to the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. I was 14 then, and I remember how, along with my parents, we went to our local square in the winter as people gathered to protest in front of our local City Hall. I was too young to go to our capital, Kyiv, where thousands of people gathered at the Independence Square to fight government corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations and increased Russian influence on the Ukrainian government.

The revolution started with a small group of students in Kyiv protesting peacefully, but after they were brutally dispersed by riot police, it felt like the whole nation rose up to protect them. Nobody messes with our children. I remember writing an article for a local newspaper about the Heavenly Hundred; police snipers killed 108 civilians. At the time, it felt more than an attack on our activists; it was an attack on our voice and ability to have a say about our future. We continue to commemorate their sacrifice each year on February 20, now “the Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes.” It is yet another reminder about the price we paid and continue to pay for having a say as citizens of a democratic country. Before Maidan, I didn’t think much about politics, and I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t fully grasp how deeply politics touches every aspect of our lives. But after seeing people willing to die for their beliefs, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Now, in 2024, as I finish my social work degree in Canada, the war in Ukraine is in its tenth year, and the full-scale invasion has lasted almost three. On top of that, other conflicts are raging around the world, and the political climate feels more tense than ever.

What scares me most is when people—especially my classmates—say that what we’re doing doesn’t matter and that nothing will change. I believe this is how democracy dies – when people stop believing that their voice matters, when they do not see the impact their work is making, and they start feeling desperate. The narrative of how we are just “small potatoes” is a dangerous path that creates room for political power abuse. Change is slow, but that does not mean we should stop caring about small and big problems: poverty, climate change, homelessness, substance abuse, wars – those things are part of our existence as humans, and we should not close our eyes to them. They are also complex issues that require structural change and political will. Sometimes, it feels like politicians don’t care, and it is easy to fall into the negative mindset of the world being doomed. But that is simply not true. What gives me hope is that the world is full of people who care and dedicate their lives to fighting injustice and upholding human dignity in all aspects of their lives.

My advice is this: surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your values. Your community will be your strength and help you find small ways of taking control of the problems you care about. There are so many activists worldwide whose passion is contagious, so it might be helpful to focus on their work and support it in any way you can. Caring about something bigger than yourself can be truly transformative, so find a cause that touches your soul and get to work. Change may be slow, but it’s real—and you’re already part of it, whether you realize it or not. So don't stop caring. Don’t stop fighting for a world where all voices matter, and where everyone has a stake in shaping the future.