Eight Values of Free Expression

    Individual Self-Fulfillment is a value of expression that I resonate with the most out of the Eight Values of Free Expression. This value is the most important to me because this value is what allows individuals to express themselves. It allows people to create any identity they want for themselves as this becomes an aspect of who we are as individuals and it is how we define ourselves. If we were not allowed to express ourselves in the ways in which we desire, there would be no diversity in our population. Everyone would dress the same, act the same, and do the same jobs. But, with Individual Self-Fulfillment, I am comfortable enough to express who I am to others and not feel judged about it. This also gives me the power to change my identity at any given point in time. Also, I believe that Individual Self-Fulfillment can be seen in action today. The younger generations (such as Millennials and Generation Z) have started to step out of their comfort zones and express who they truly are for anyone to see, especially with the help of social media. This is the time when individuals of different races, religions, sexual orientations, etc. are being accepted for who they truly are. Without the value of Individual Self-Fulfillment, this would have never happened. 

    The value of expression that I see in action today is the third value, Stable Change (aka Safety Valve). Especially when it comes to politics, we have seen in the past years people are becoming vocal regarding their political values and who they like and dislike in office. While this can lead to a lot of anger if someone disagrees with these thoughts and opinions, there are other instances where the ability to "vent" has been incredibly beneficial for an individual, or for society overall. Especially on social media, people are feeling more inspired to share their thoughts and feelings even on topics people may not be comfortable listening to. A lot of individuals will discuss problems going on in today's society regarding the lack of rights for African Americans, women, and people part of the LGBTQ+ community. The more these topics are discussed, the more people become aware of the issues and the likelihood is higher that change can be made. It is also a lot more common to see discussions on how to improve the world around us, on how we can make an impact on climate change and global warming. While not all "venting" especially on social media is positive, it can cause changes to be made which is a compelling right for us citizens to have. 

    To continue with the idea of Stable Change, in the news very recently the world has found out about a shooting that left three dead and five wounded at Michigan State University. Due to Stable Change, people are given the right to "vent" about the issue whether they experienced it in person or heard about it on the news or through social media. Gun control is a huge issue in the United States, and this incident proves it again. This is giving people the opportunity to use social media as a platform to express their thoughts and feelings to hopefully make a change regarding this massive issue. Social media has become an amazing tool to help create change, and people are already communicating about this issue greatly.