作者：张兴贵
编辑：李之洋 责任编辑：罗志飞 校对：林小龙 翻译：彭小梅

政治是公共生活的艺术，与每个人的命运息息相关。冷漠并非中立，不关心政治即放弃权利。唯有公民觉醒、积极参与，方能守护正义、保护弱者，建设公平社会。

在中国，我们常听到一种声音：“不要关心政治，不要参与政治，管好自己的生活就够了。”这种观念似乎深入人心，许多人认为政治是遥远、复杂甚至危险的事情，与普通人的日常生活无关。然而，我要郑重地说：这种想法是错误的。政治不是高高在上的权力游戏，也不是少数人的专属领域。政治就是公共生活，它关乎我们如何共同安排生活、保护弱者、执行正义。不关心政治、不参与政治，等于放弃了我们对自己命运与未来的主动权。

首先，我们要明确：什么是政治？政治不是冷冰冰的制度，也不是尔虞我诈的阴谋，而是我们共同生活的艺术。它是社会成员共同决定如何规划城市、分配资源、制定规则的过程。从街道是否安全，到教育是否公平，再到医疗是否充足，这些都离不开政治的安排。政治不是抽象的概念，而是生活的具体体现。每一盏路灯的点亮、每一条法律的实施、每一个社区的建设，都是政治的成果。政治将个体的愿望连接起来，形成一个有序、公平的社会。

在中国，许多人对政治的冷漠源于一种误解：政治是“麻烦事”，参与政治可能带来风险。这种观念有其历史和文化根源，但它忽略了一个关键事实——不关心政治，并不意味着政治不会影响你。当房价高企、年轻人买不起房时，这是政治决策的结果；当食品安全与环境污染威胁健康时，这是政治治理的缺失；当教育资源分配不公，农村孩子难以获得优质教育时，这同样是政治选择的后果。若我们对政治视而不见，就等于把影响生活的决定权拱手让人。一个被忽视的政治体系，不会自动带来公平与幸福。

更重要的是，政治的核心使命之一是保护弱者。社会中总有一些人处于弱势地位——贫困家庭、留守儿童、残疾人、老年人，他们的声音最微弱，却最需要被听见。政治正是为他们提供保护的盾牌。无论是社会福利政策的保障，还是法律改革以消除性别、种族歧视，政治的职责都是确保每个人都能在社会中找到自己的位置。如果我们都不关心政治，那些需要帮助的人将被忽视。不参与政治，就是放弃为弱者发声的机会，也放弃让社会更公平的责任。

政治的另一项神圣职责是执行正义。正义是社会稳定的基石，也是人民信任的来源。没有正义，法律便成空文，社会只剩强权。在中国，我们常听到关于贪腐、不公与权力滥用的抱怨。这些问题之所以长期存在，往往因为政治透明度不足、公众参与度不够。当公民沉默时，政治就可能被少数人操控，偏离正义的轨道。反之，若人人积极参与，通过监督政策、表达意见、关注社区事务，就能推动政治走向公正。正义不是自动实现的，它需要人们通过政治机制去维护与捍卫。

当然，我们必须承认，政治并不完美。其复杂与敏感让许多人望而却步。有人说：“我只是普通人，参与政治能改变什么？”这种想法低估了普通人的力量。历史一次又一次证明，社会的每次进步都离不开普通人的参与。正如滴水汇成江河，每一个人的觉醒与努力，终将推动社会的改变。

政治需要我们的智慧与热情。参与政治，不一定意味着上街抗议或竞选职位，它可以是关心社区事务、支持公益组织，或仅仅是与家人朋友讨论社会问题。每一个微小的参与，都是对公共生活的投入。政治，是我们共同生活的艺术，是我们面对挑战、追求公平与正义的过程。政治不是“别人的事”，而是“我们的事”。

Why We Must Care About Politics

Author: Xinggui Zhang
Editor: Zhiyang Li· Executive Editor: Zhifei Luo Proofreader: Xiaolong Lin Translator: Xiaomei Peng

Abstract: Politics is the art of public life, inseparable from everyone’s destiny. Indifference is not neutrality—ignoring politics means surrendering one’s rights. Only through civic awakening and active participation can we defend justice, protect the vulnerable, and build a fair society.

In China, one often hears this refrain: “Don’t care about politics. Don’t get involved. Just mind your own life.” This idea seems deeply rooted in people’s minds. Many regard politics as distant, complicated, or even dangerous—something irrelevant to ordinary life. But I must state this clearly: such thinking is mistaken. Politics is not an exclusive power game played by elites. It is public life itself—it determines how we live together, how we protect the weak, and how we uphold justice. To ignore or abstain from politics is to relinquish control over our own fate and future.

First, we need to be clear: what is politics? Politics is not a cold system or a web of conspiracies. It is the art of collective living. It is the process through which members of society decide how to plan cities, allocate resources, and make rules. From the safety of our streets, to the fairness of education, to the adequacy of healthcare—every aspect depends on political decisions. Politics is not abstract; it manifests in daily life. Every streetlight that turns on, every law that takes effect, every community that takes shape—all are products of politics. Politics connects individual desires and molds them into an orderly, just society.

In China, people’s apathy toward politics often stems from fear or misunderstanding—believing that politics is “trouble” or “dangerous.” Such attitudes have historical and cultural roots, but they overlook a key fact: even if you ignore politics, politics will not ignore you. When housing prices soar and young people can’t afford homes, that is the result of political decisions. When food safety and environmental pollution threaten public health, that is a failure of political governance. When unequal education keeps rural children from good schools, that too is a political choice. Turning a blind eye to politics means handing over the power to decide your life to others. A neglected political system will not automatically bring fairness or happiness.

One of the sacred duties of politics is to protect the weak. Every society has vulnerable groups—the poor, the elderly, children left behind, the disabled. Their voices are the faintest, yet they are the ones who most need to be heard. Politics should serve as their shield. From welfare policies to legal reforms against gender or racial discrimination, the role of politics is to ensure that everyone has a rightful place in society. If we all remain indifferent, these people will be forgotten. Refusing to engage in politics means giving up the chance to speak for the voiceless and to make society more just.

Justice is the cornerstone of social stability and the foundation of public trust. Without justice, the law becomes a hollow shell and society descends into the rule of the strong. In China, complaints about corruption, unfairness, and abuse of power are common. These problems persist because of a lack of political transparency and citizen participation. When citizens remain silent, politics becomes the tool of a few and strays from justice. But when citizens engage—by monitoring policies, expressing opinions, and participating in community affairs—they push politics toward fairness. Justice does not emerge automatically; it must be upheld through political action.

Politics is imperfect, and its complexity can be intimidating. Many ask, “I’m just an ordinary person—what can I change?” But such doubt underestimates the power of the ordinary. History shows that every step of social progress was driven by the awakening of ordinary people. Like drops that gather into a river, each act of awareness and participation contributes to collective change.

Politics requires our wisdom and passion. Participation does not only mean protests or elections—it can begin with caring about your community, supporting public causes, or simply discussing social issues with friends and family. Every small act of involvement enriches public life. Politics is the art of living together—the process through which we face challenges and pursue fairness and justice. Politics is not “someone else’s business.” It is our business.