German indifference

I once read: "Life is all about decisions". Fair enough, that was on one of those dreadful Pinterest quote images that annoying relatives just love to send into the family WhatsApp group. But fundamentally, my aunt has a point: from choosing your outfit in the morning to selecting your degree programme to marking your postal voting ballot, life is constantly full of decisions. However, I can't quite understand why people talk about the agony of choice. Decisions actually open up life for personal, social and political participation. 

All the more depressing, then, that the latter in particular is all too often neglected. Whilst democracy's enemies rail against the engaged part of our generation, Würzburg's student body at best opts for active disinterest, at worst for ostracising all those who want to take part in political discourse. Apparently we're choosing the same path as our parents. Change? No thanks, as long as my Tatort doesn't get politicised away. The vote function on Jodel becomes the only tool for democratic engagement in everyday life. Breasts up, Nazis down. But heaven forbid the authorities want to close our pubs earlier — then students take to the streets. 

Perhaps some of us have learnt from #NoSperrzeit that even our own comfort bubble in the university town isn't entirely free from politics. However tedious and agonising some decisions may be, I'm incredibly grateful to be able to exercise this freedom here. Whether it's at university elections, at demonstrations or otherwise. You only have one voice. Make sure it's heard. 

 Leon Montero