Tattoos

I am not a fan of tattoos. No use beating around the bush. Here’s why.

The main reason is that I believe that we have been already fantastically made and don’t need somebody we don’t know adorning our body with something permanent we may regret in time. I think a lot has to be said for natural beauty.

I know that there are parents who agonize over their kids following the crowd. I sympathize with them. It is his or her body, so you can’t prevent somebody from getting a tattoo, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel good about it if you don’t.

Just think if I had enough money to buy the Mona Lisa. If I owned it, I might decide to paint a moustache on her lip. I know a lot of people may be upset, but if I owned the painting, I could do with it as I wish. To add my personal touches to this masterpiece would be crazy.

That’s the way I feel about the human body and that’s the way I feel about tattoos. Why alter the master artist’s work?

The second reason is the reason people get tattoos. Years ago, few would have considered it. Then why, suddenly, is it so popular?

One is that many celebrities are seen with them. I get the feeling that people want to appear trendy. Hey, if Angelina has one, I have to get one.

Next, is the effect of television. Several programs glamorize the process of getting a tattoo. Not one of the few I have seen shows somebody regretting it. I wonder why? They are selling the sizzle, not the steak. Get a tattoo and you are suddenly trendier and sexier. Really? Sure, just like drinking beer makes your lifestyle better. You don’t see many beer ads depicting drunks, do you?

The fourth thing I see is the “I’m bored, so I’m going to do something bold so people will talk about me” syndrome. Some think it can be fun doing something, especially if they know it will push somebody’s buttons. Six months later they may want another one or something more extreme to generate attention.

I get a bit of a laugh when some people announce to me that they just got a tattoo. I ask, “Where did you get it?” Usually they reply that it is somewhere where you don’t see it that easily. Is it me or does that statement not make much sense? Why get something then try to put it in an inconspicuous place? If I bought a Jaguar car, I wouldn’t park it where others might not notice it.

What would I say if my wife wanted a tattoo? I’d tell her to go ahead if she really wanted to, but to do so with the knowledge that it would be a turn-off to me. It’s much the same if she decided that she wanted to smoke. I wouldn’t be in favour of it. She would have the right to do whatever she wanted, but I would be honest about my reaction. Then she would have to decide.

However, why not a compromise? Why not consider non-permanent transfers?

Come to think of it, we had a dispute over a similar issue once. I do not support fur and she wanted to attend a function with a mink stole. My position was firm. She was welcome to go, but if she wanted to wear the fur, she would be going alone. Ouch! That was a difficult one. It ended up that I went alone.

I guess it comes down to this. We all have the right to do whatever we want. Nobody can force us to do anything, but we can choose out of love to consider another person’s feelings towards something. I know that my wife would have no problem wearing furs in the winter. I love the fact that she understands the importance of this issue to me and refrains from donning pelts.

In a similar manner, I heed her advice on what I wear and how my hair is styled. I don’t want merely to look good to her, but for her as well.

Yes, it may be a small sacrifice, but that is what love is, right? If I truly love, it’s not all about me.