Actor Jan Josef Liefers warns of the possible consequences of the corona crisis. The demonstrations in Berlin bring back memories of 1989.
Actor and musician Jan Josef Liefers (56, "Tatort") speaks warning words about the corona crisis. In the "Bild" talk, Liefers, born in Dresden in 1964, compared the current situation with the turning point in the GDR after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989/90 and, in contrast to the current Corona demos, praised the discipline of the demonstrators in the sinking GDR. At that time there was a direction, the implementation of the demos was peaceful, said Liefers.
Liefers took an active part in the demonstrations in East Berlin in 1989 against dictatorship and for democracy and freedom. But despite the justified criticism of the "hygiene demos" there are also people "between conspiracy theorists and right-wing radicals" who are simply very afraid for their existence. Liefers asked the group: "What happens if citizens get the impression that the measures are causing more damage than the virus itself?"
The artist told of a weekend concert on the floating stage in Dresden, where a crew member told him that although he knew what he was doing against the virus, he did not know how to defend himself against a measure, his own Existence attacks.
Liefers: Radicalization is a question of character
However, Liefers believes that it is a question of character whether personal economic decline and financial hardships lead to political radicalism. "Nobody in my circle of friends becomes radical because they don't know how to pay their rent – but sad. And at a loss. Nobody should be in this country," Liefers continued.
"Giving people back responsibility"
Liefers criticized the current type of political communication and the danger of paternalism. He cited his 76-year-old mother as an example: "She has decided for herself – a grown woman in full possession of her intellectual powers – to take the risk of seeing her grandchildren." It would hit them on the stomach if someone came now and told her not to. Liefers urgent appeal: "At some point we have to give people back responsibility."
The actor attested that Western society was good at dealing with risks – in contrast to fear. His appeal: "We have to stop being afraid". The government must do everything, as it were, to "take the fear out of everyday life" and to come to a sensible risk management. "
In addition, the Basic Law and freedom should not be subordinated to protection against infection. He missed the view of the young generation, who are least at risk from the virus, but who have to bear the costs of the measures for the most part. In the end it is the question of "how we all want to live."