The freedom of expression is one of the rights and freedoms that are expressed in each and every democratic state and nation across the world. However, its application and implementation is differently viewed and applied in different nations depending with the respective countries’ constitutions and governmental organization. However, its implementation has been differently viewed and applied, especially, considering the fact that the freedom of expression and communication has led to various outcomes and impacts in different countries and states, whereby in most of the cases have led to incitement of the majority (the greater and the minor majority, alike). This is one of the reasons why different countries have implemented and put in place different rules and regulations that will ensure that the citizens, in their respective positions, respect and honor the government, as well as limits their communication, to avoid cases of incitement. The same has been advocated for, not only in the government and official places and settings, but also in other areas, such as social institutions. These include schools, and this is one of the aspects that the book Freedom Writers has looked at.
In the book, communication and its freedom have been discussed, and in this case, communication has been based on various factors, such as racism, which is one of the major factors in the schools across the world. Racism has been ion the increase, whereby various students have been discriminated against by their peers, especially, the minority groups in the schools. In Freedom Writers, for example, discrimination based on racism has been on the increase. As a result, the students have not been in a position to concentrate in their education and studies. As a result, the teacher exclaims that this is one of the reasons that led to the holocaust (discrimination against the Jewish community in Europe, which led to the killings, death and slum-concentration of the tribe in the nineteenth century). This prompted the teacher, Erin Gruwell, and his class to look at various ways through which freedom of expression and communication has affected the relationship between schoolmates, and the earlier such a case is resolved, the better it is for all the involved parties.
In order for the students to understand how communication affects them as well as the society around them, teacher Erin assisted them in reading two books, Zlata’s diary and Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, and from these two books, the students took note of how communication, particularly discriminative communication, affects both the mental selves, as well as the people with whom they are communicating with.
In regards to the freedom of speech, communication and intellectual thinking, Carol Dweck has played a major role in not only understanding the ways through which people communicate with others, but also with themselves. This is due to the fact that communication is effectively carried out between two persons when an individual is in a state of mind through which he can communicate with himself, as well. What a person thinks is externally projected, and this is the basis upon which his communication with other people is established and carried out.
In Brainology, for example, Mrs. Dweck has played a major role in not only understanding how the brain works during communication, but also in the development of ideas. This is what directly affects people’s behavior and their outlook and approach towards the day to day aspectys that affect their lives, such as the embracement of all the new ideas, generation of opportunities and how to effectively maximize on these opportunities. As a result, one is in a better position to intellectually grow and develop, and this is one of the major factors and aspects that this carol Dweck has focused on in the article.
According to Carol Dweck, for example, there are various benefits associated with people’s mindset and belief, as well as their day to day outlook towards the various aspects that affect them. This is due to the fact that a person’s mindset plays a major role in various aspects that lead to interpersonal, as well as personal development, such as motivation. Intrinsic motivation, for instance, has been viewed by psychologists as very necessary, and in some cases, more essential than the extrinsic motivation. It is as a result of intrinsic motivation that people develop positive mindsets and attitudes towards various aspects, such as the day to day life challenges, as well as identification of various life opportunities, something that Carol Dweck has focused on, in Brainology.
In her approach, therefore, Mrs. Dweck presents the brain as one of the most powerful tools that man can use, in order to not only effectively communicate with people and the environment around them, but also for purposes of personal development and empowerment. This is due to the fact that Dweck views development and personal growth as founded in the mind, and it is only though intrinsic development and empowerment, which a person will be in a good position to also, influence the environment around them (Dweck 14).
Daniel Pink, on the other hand, has shared the same sentiments, in his book Drive. In this book, Pink has explained that intelligence is a fixed quality, which has room for development and growth. This is the same opinion that Dweck has in her article, and according to Daniel Pink, the intellectual capital (otherwise referred to as the brain capacity in lame man’s language) is one of the strongest assets that a person has, since through the implementation, exercise and use of the same, one is in a good position to achieve whatever it is that he sets his target on (Pink 15).
Lastly, Lauren Slater and Charles Duhigg have looked at the mindset from both internal and external perspectives, in their books The Power of Habit and Rat Park: The Radical Addiction Experiment, respectively. In their opinion, it is necessary to note the fact that the brain plays a major role in not only developing the inner person, but also understanding the outer person. Despite the fact that both books have been written independently, both authors concur to the fact that the brain is the most essential tool in a person’s life, since it influences the external setting, and this is only achieved through expressing one’s ideas, being open to change, as well as embracing other people’s opinions, since every person has his own school of thought and approach towards the day to day activities that affect them (Duhigg 44).
In conclusion, it is evident that there is a major relationship between the brain and the behavior that the person expresses to the external environment. The same has been noted, especially through communication, whereby one is not in able to communicate with others effectively when he has a clear and insightful understanding of others’ opinions, but also able to develop an intellectual approach, especially, in relating with other people and the environment in which he is exposed. This is one of the major aspects that stand out in all the articles and books that I have discussed in this paper. Therefore, it is evident that personality (which is defined and shown through various characteristics such as a person’s behavior, mental approach towards various stimuli and one’s reaction towards the day to day aspects that affect us) is developed and retained in one’s mind. In this case, therefore, in order to a person to effectively develop, especially intellectually, mental and personal growth is necessary, as well as the development of a positive mindset, as this will assist them in not only communicating with other people, but also understanding and regarding their ideas, whether they share in their sentiments or differ (Derrick 116).
Works cited
Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. New York: Random House, 2012. Print.
Dweck, Carol. “Brainology.” Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/uploaded/District_Programs/21st_Century_Innovation/brainology_intro_pres.pdf on May 13th, 2013. Print.
Jones, Derrick. Mindsets: The art of thinking. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.
Pink, Daniel. Drive. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.
Slater, Lauren. Rat Park: The Radical Addiction Experiment. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980. Print.
