Caleb - Week 12 - The Power of Expression
Expression is more than simply communication. It is a force that drives connection, fuels creativity, and shapes our reality. Our ability to express ourselves is a direct reflection of our own character and helps those around us grasp who we truly are. This ability is incredibly powerful and paramount to one’s livelihood.
Effective expression provides more insight into who someone is and therefore makes it easier to foster relationships with those around you as you come to understand their character. The way we express ourselves dictates how the outside world perceives us and therefore determines much of our life. Others’ perception of you could dictate what job you get, what college you attend, and who you become friends with.
Expression could also take other forms such as words. My POAS person Martin Luther King Jr. is a perfect example of how one’s expression of their words affect the outcome of many situations and are therefore powerful. His assertion that protests against segregation must be peaceful spread across the country and these peaceful protests eventually led to the end of the “Jim Crow Era.” But Dr. King’s most iconic moment was his “I Have A Dream” speech atop Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where he EXPRESSED his hopes for America’s future as “dreams” but tried to put them very simply to make them seem as though they were birth-rights to show Americans not afflicted by the fight for equality how unfair these people were being treated. Ultimately, King and the entire civil rights movement got what they wanted but mainly in part due to how King expressed himself in many of his public speeches, but most importantly this one.
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ReplyDeleteHi Caleb,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you and how expression really is key to individuals and society as a whole. I believe that without any way to express ourselves, other people will really have no idea who we are and what goes on inside our minds, so expression really allows for that. This importance is also seen through other ways such as the impact of the lack of expression. If people cannot express themselves to other people, and if they cannot articulate what they are going through, they end up being stuck in a really hard time, and even sometimes in a hole which they cannot get themselves out of. That is why many people go through things such as depression. In essence, expression is really just a way to help people help you, and without any form of expression, this is impossible. I also wanted to say that I really appreciate how you connected your blog topic to your POAS person, MLK, who really is the embodiment of expression. He expressed in a time where his expression was suppressed, which really brings us to think about why we are reluctant to express ourselves when he did during such a hard time.
Hi Caleb! I think this is such a unique topic because I never stopped to consider just how much of a role that expression plays in how a person is perceived and how a person sees themself. I really love how you worded the power of expression and how it completely changes who you are as a person. I never considered before that the way we express ourselves is a direct reflection of who we are as people and that honestly made me stop and consider what my expression says about me. I love how you don't shy away from the fact that the way people see us does matter; while many people preach that we shouldn't care about what others think, I think that, while we shouldn't only consider other's opinions, we should still care about what is said about us. As you point out, the perception of our employer and friends and every other person in our lives decides what opportunities are presented to us. I also love how you tied MLK's story into this because he does seem to be the perfect example of how expression can change not just an individual's life, but an entire nation. Overall, I think this is an amazing topic and I really love your explanations! I look forward to reading more!
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