Pain and happiness have never accompanied one another so ironically as getting a tattoo. It involves the use of needles to create permanent drawings, symbols or messages anywhere on the human body.Tattooing is an art form that dates back to the times of ancient civilizations as evidenced by the preserved skin from mummies in China, Egypt, Mongolia, Sudan and locations within the Andes Mountains. Tattooing has persisted through modern times across the globe and has increased drastically in the Western world over the last century. However, anytime an idea garners support, there is always hate out there somewhere to contradict it. I possess one large tattoo on my ribs and absolutely love it. I do plan on acquiring more in the future and it bothers me when people bash on the artwork like it's extremely taboo. Well, stop hating on tattoos and enjoy the expression for these few reasons.
1. Yes, your body is a temple, so decorate it like one.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were brought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies." As a loud and proud Christian, I thrive to apply God's word in everyday life. The Bible references that your body is a temple and should be treated like one. My interpretation of this is that even if every human body is equally as holy, not every temple will look exactly the same. All seven billion people living today are already physically different to begin with. Some temples are small, some are fat, some are skinny and some temples just happened to be decorated with works of art. My tattoo is a tribal Christian fish with a cross in the center. I honestly don't believe the Lord will punish me for simply carrying a symbol of my faith on me wherever I venture. Your body is a temple and it's perfectly normal to treat it in whatever way you desire that makes it feel holy to you.
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2. No, they aren't unprofessional.
"But, but, but if you have tattoos you won't get a decent job!" This probably irks me more than anything. Tattoos will not hinder you from getting hired to a job. There is a limit to where you place your tattoos. If you have tattoos crawling up your neck and hands and head, then I can see where that might prevent you from jump starting a career. Nonetheless, numerous jobs today require people to wear business attire or scrubs with lab coats. A person could have his or her entire torso and back covered in tattoos and you would never be able to tell a difference from the individual standing five feet away wearing the same attire. Plus, I highly doubt your job interview will consist of stripping your body down so your potential employer can count how many tattoos you possess that will earn you an early notice of termination. I plan on pursuing a Doctorate of Physical Therapy after I complete undergrad. Now talk about being professional. That being said, tattoos are not unprofessional in the workplace as long as you are strategic about where you place them. And if that doesn't work, then I am sure you could have a fantastic career as a tattoo artist.
3. If you don't have them, stop worrying about them.
People are quick to judge, and it just doesn't seem logical to me for a person to place hate against tattoos when that same person does not even contain one hint of ink. You can easily go about your day without criticizing people left and right about what constitutes normality and what doesn't. Likewise, if someone is unhappy with his or her tattoo ten years down the road, then that is his or her own fault and not anyone else's right to be concerned
4. Many people get tattoos for the right reasons and are aware of it.
Every single time I ask someone why he or she got a specific tattoo, nine out of ten times it's usually because he or she wants to openly express a certain religion, honor a deceased loved one, highlight a life-changing event, recognize military service or to symbolize something small with huge meaning to it. There is a lot more to tattoos than people think than waltzing into a tattoo parlor at midnight hammered and getting the first thing they see. Although that example can easily happen, it is likely that people generally put in the time and effort to thinking up a perfect meaningful tattoo.Tattoos are even a part of many cultures still in existence today, such as the Maori tribe in New Zealand. Additionally, how can a person be so low to judge someone for having a tattoo that immortalizes a fallen loved one?
5. It's art, people, not the work of the Devil
Creativity is one aspect that I feel a majority of people are afraid of. Tattoos are meant to be appreciated and applauded. Hating on tattoos can be paralleled to hating on paintings in a museum. It sounds weird right? The only difference is the canvas. Bask in the various forms of expressions and marvel at the different styles that tattoo artists contain. No artist tattoos the same and isn't diversity something Americans attempt to emphasize already?
Tattoos are still on the rise and will hopefully continue to do so throughout this century. Popular TV shows have been created to boost support for tattoos, like "Inkmaster" and "Tattoo Nightmares". As mentioned before, not a day goes by where I regret getting my tattoo. It is scary thought to having something permanent on your body forever. Laser tattoo removal isn't exactly 100% effective, but if you are ever unhappy with your tattoo you can always resort to getting a cover up. It is easy to abuse them, but as Uncle Ben from Spider-man states "with great power comes great responsibility." For now, stop hating on tattoos and enjoy the expression.
