"The Priorities Are Shifting from Liberty to Safety" – Juli Zeh on Leipzig
To me, Leipzig seemed like a young, adventurous, slightly crazy person trying to enjoy their freedom and experiment with everything. A place that's good for people who are just as free and adventurous and want to put themselves and their abilities to the test. Leipzig was a breath of fresh air to me, unlike west German cities, where everything always seems so fixed and certain.
Then there's everyday life and my relationship with people on the street and in my neighbourhood. That really has changed a lot. I used to be very happy and felt quite at home with the general atmosphere in Leipzig and my day-to-day dealings with people. Now I feel very uncomfortable. People often snap at me on the street because they don't agree with something I did. That never used to happen. In Leipzig the priorities are shifting from liberty to safety. While that is currently happening everywhere, I think it's particularly prevalent here. People are starting to control each other, and that drags down the quality of life here quite a bit.
[What is a must-see when visitors come to Leipzig?] Visitors should definitely experience the city's different sides. You should experience it as a university town, a night-spot, a place of business, a city of leisure and nature and as a cultural hub. All these aspects are very much represented here, even though Leipzig's cultural life is unfortunately being driven downhill.
