TOO INK, OR NOT TO INK?
I’ve been stuck in
this limbo for a good while now. This millennial generation is really into
tattoos, because over 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo, and a
third of the American population alone has been inked in there late teens early
twenties, which is cool. I think the fact were allowed to have freedom of
expression on our bodies is a righteous move for politics and society. Another part of me still thinks that our
bodies are not for tattoos and that we should utilize other forms of
expression, something not so permanent.
Aside
from being from a family which none of them have tattoos, I was raised on the
Lutheran faith so Christianity has a huge impact on my life. The bible says
“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any
marks upon you; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:28) To me, this means that you
shouldn’t get tattoos because your body is a temple and just like you wouldn’t,
at least you shouldn’t, graffiti a church (a.k.a. temple) you shouldn’t tattoo
your body. How far does that go though? When I was in middle school we
would write notes on each others hands in pen and draw on our skin, how does that play into the scenario? Granted, I am not a person without sin. I am only
human and I do my fair share of disappointing.
To go along with that, the tattoo I want does not have super deep
meaning to it. Some people only get tattooed because a tragic moment happened
in their lives and they use ink as a memory here as mine would serve as a
little bit of my life but also a cute design on my shoulder blade. Also, I am
one of those people who does not want ink in my wedding photos or major life
event photos. “Well why not just get it after that?” Because I’ll probably be
about 27 and not sure if I want it anymore. I want a tattoo now because it
would be a symbol of my twenties going on forever. The fact that I might nt
want it later is really sticking with me because that’s a good reason to not
get one now.
On
the contrary, I do want a tattoo. This would be evidence to remind me everyday
of what young freedom looks like. This tattoo would be there because I put it
there. Nonetheless, if I were to get this
tattoo it would be one of a kind, because that’s what tattoos should be,
meaningful and different. Refer to my post “The Tattoo I Don’t Have” if you want to know what I would do. There are many reasons not to get a
tattoo, and some of you re probably thinking, “Wow, Jordan. You’re really over
thinking this, it’s just a tattoo.” To you it may be, but to me, if something
is permanently going to be attached to my body, I want it to be something that
I will understand fifteen to thirty years from now. This should be a story to
tell people, not just “I got it because I liked it.” I want this for me because
it describes my free spirit, my faith life, and my destination. I like to think
of myself as a creative individual and I think everyone should be able to
express themselves in anyway they can. We were all created individual and we
should all be able to show off our unique flavors. Your body is a canvas, leave
it blank or tell a story.
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