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Freedom of expression is one
of civilization’s greatest achievements. Without it, culture stagnates, thought
retracts, and human creativity becomes shackled. It is through the freedom to
speak, write, sing, perform, and question that societies evolve intellectually
and emotionally. Scholars like the Portuguese neuroscientist António Damásio
have explained that our emotions are intrinsically tied to our ability to
communicate ideas and feelings. When this communication is suppressed, the
brain responds with cognitive and emotional withdrawal — empathy, creativity,
and even resilience decrease. In other words, a society that silences its
people becomes sick. Freedom of expression, therefore, is not only vital for
democratic dialogue but also essential for the mental and cultural health of
nations.
History shows us that
the darkest times were those when expression was restricted. During the
Inquisition, dissenting voices were violently silenced; in Nazi Germany, books
were burned in public squares; and in many contemporary authoritarian regimes,
journalists are still imprisoned or killed for speaking the truth. Each of
these acts of repression left deep scars on culture and collective
consciousness. In contrast, the greatest periods of human flourishing — such as
the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, or the creative explosion of the 1960s —
were marked by expanded freedom of thought and expression. Think of figures
like Leonardo da Vinci, who painted and wrote in times of cultural
effervescence, or Martin Luther King Jr., whose free voice inspired millions to
fight for equality. In both cases, freedom of expression was the initial spark
for monumental transformation.
From a neuroscientific
perspective, recent studies conducted at Harvard and Oxford show that
environments of cognitive freedom — where people feel safe to express their
ideas — activate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, responsible for critical
reasoning and complex decision-making. Furthermore, there is an increased
release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to motivation and the pleasure
of creation. This means that in spaces where people can speak without fear, the
brain literally functions better. These findings confirm what educators and
artists have long known in practice: that thought blossoms where freedom
reigns.
In this context, the
MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology, created by Antônio Carlos dos
Santos, stands out as an example of how freedom of expression can be fostered
in educational environments. This approach proposes the transformation of
mindsets through dramatization and the stimulation of free reflection. By using
theatrical expression as a tool for learning and critique, MAT allows children,
youth, and adults to find their voice and develop their thinking in an
empathetic, critical, and creative manner. It is a methodology that restores to
the student the right to their own voice — and that is profoundly liberating.
Culture, in turn, is
the mirror of a people’s freedom. Every time an artist can paint a
controversial picture, a writer can publish a provocative book, or a teacher
can offer social criticism in the classroom, culture advances. In authoritarian
environments, art hides, literature censors itself, and education becomes
propaganda. Freedom of expression is, therefore, the soil from which all forms
of culture grow. The Theater Movement (ThM), also developed by Antônio Carlos
dos Santos, explores this connection between body, freedom, and expression.
Using theatrical movement to explore emotions and ideas, it offers participants
an experience of self-discovery and critical emancipation.
Recent reports from
UNESCO and the London School of Economics highlight that societies with greater
press and expression freedom also show higher levels of innovation, social
development, and life satisfaction. These data reinforce the strategic value of
freedom of expression. It is not merely a philosophical ideal but a lever for
human progress in every sense — cultural, scientific, psychological, and
economic. The freer people feel to express themselves, the more they engage,
learn, create, and evolve.
Freedom of expression
is also fundamental for building healthy identities. Children raised in homes
where they can express opinions and be heard develop greater self-esteem,
emotional security, and empathy. Adults who live in environments where
disagreement is safe tend to foster more mature and open relationships. When
expression is prohibited, space is made for internal repression — and the
silence that follows breeds suffering. The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (TBMB),
one of the most inclusive and powerful methods of child expression, shows how
even through puppets and symbolic play, children can give voice to their
anxieties, desires, and worldviews. This freedom to express transforms and
heals.
We must also remember
that many great historical leaders — such as Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai,
and Václav Havel — were people who defied imposed silence. They spoke when
everyone wanted them quiet. They wrote, protested, and expressed themselves
even at the risk of imprisonment or death. In doing so, they not only changed
their own realities but also liberated entire peoples. The courage to speak out
has an immeasurable ripple effect. It inspires other voices. It ignites other
freedoms.
It is essential to
teach from an early age that freedom of expression is not only a right but also
a responsibility. It means listening to others, respecting differences, and
building a shared space where ideas can coexist. As philosopher Karl Popper
once said, an open society survives only if it can embrace the diversity of
thought. This is learned in schools, within families, and on stages. It is
taught through practice, example, and encouragement of critical debate. When
this becomes a social habit, we have a living, rich, human, and progressive
culture.
For all these reasons,
we must defend freedom of expression as a non-negotiable asset of civilization.
It is not an enemy of order, but rather of tyranny. It does not threaten peace,
but builds understanding. And, above all, it is the spark that makes humanity
something more than survival — it makes us creators of our own history. As
Antônio Carlos dos Santos teaches, “where there is freedom of expression, there
is life exploding. Let us know how to preserve it as if it were the air we
breathe. Because it is.”
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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