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Why Put a Bumper Sticker on a Ferrari?

Asst. News Editor

Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012

Updated: Monday, November 5, 2012 20:11

Lisa

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DISCLOSURE: THIS LINK WAS POSTED AT 4 p.m. ON 02/02/12


I get it. It's the 21st century. You're cool, you're rebellious, you're cutting edge, you have a point to prove, and you're a woman. Awesome.

Ladies, I know you're at least at the legal age of making your own decisions, but before you decide to get a tattoo, allow me to let you in on a little secret. A secret you may have not fully realized yet thus far in your life. What you must understand is, as women, we are – naturally – beautiful creatures.

Seriously, though. Your body literally has the ability to turn heads. Guys drool over us. We hold some serious power in our hands, because – as corny as this sounds – we hold the world's beauty.

But something girls seem to forget nowadays, or maybe have not been taught, is that women hold the world's class and elegance in their hands, as well. So what's more attractive than a girl with a nice body? I'll tell you what: a girl with class. Looks may not last, but class does. And so do tattoos.

An elegant woman does not vandalize the temple she has been blessed with as her body. She appreciates it. She flaunts it. She's not happy with it? She goes to the gym. She dresses it up in lavish, fun, trendy clothes, enjoying trips to the mall with her girlfriends. She accentuates her legs with high heels. She gets her nails done. She enjoys the finer things in life, all with the body she was blessed with.

But marking it up with ink? That's just not necessary.

I'm not here to say a girl should walk around flaunting her body like it's her job – that's just degrading. Instead of getting a tattoo, a more productive use of your time would be improving and appreciating the body you have been given, not permanently engraving it.

Can you get meaning out of a tattoo? Arguably. If you want to insert ink into your skin as a symbol for something greater than yourself, then maybe you are proving a point to yourself or the rest of the world.

But at the end of the day, are you really a happier person? Has this tattoo, for instance, caused you to learn something new about yourself? Has it challenged you? Has it led you to self-growth? Nothing comes out of getting a tattoo. You get a tattoo, and that's it. You do something productive, though, and you see results. That's a genuine, satisfying change in life. Not ink.

Invest your time, money, and effort into a gym membership, or yoga classes, or new clothes, or experimenting with different hairstyles if you're craving something new with your body, not a tattoo.

I promise, it will be a much more rewarding experience, and you won't find yourself in a rut when your future grandkids ask you what's up with the angel wings on your upper back as you're in the middle of giving them a life lesson on the importance of values and morals.

God knows the last thing this world needs is another generation of kids questioning their basic values and morals.

 

Email: lisa.khoury@ubspectrum.com

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162 comments

Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:40
Hey Kathy,

This clearly is NOT an 8th grade piece, considering this girl goes to a University and the newspaper published it.

Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:31
OMG!!!! THE WORLD IS GOING TO END! THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THESE SAD SOULS THAT DON'T LIKE TATTOOS!!!
Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:29
Hey, Nora from Chicago...

When did anyone say your going to hell? IF someone did, I'm sorry to hear that. But no one cares.

Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:25
Tattos! So serious! RAAAAAWR! RAGE!
Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:24
HEY EVERYONE!!! I HATE TATTOOS!!!! But that doesn't mean I hate all of you because you have tattoos. I hate all of you because of how cruel & harsh you can be!!! ahhh the truth always prevails.
Nora (Chicago)
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:20
I don't feel any compulsion to offer up my résumé or the story of my family as evidence to the contrary of the narrow view of this 'writer' about a lifestyle or choice with which she has no experience.

My life is mine, as is my body.

And the world may be 'judgey,' but anyone who decorates their bodies (or experiments with their hair, as she much more elegantly suggests) recognizes that we are judged at every turn. But just as I am strangely comforted when religious fanatics declare that I'm going to hell, this woman's assessment that I have made myself less classy/desirable/feminine strikes me as a well-earned compliment, considering the source.

Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:19
I love all the comments saying it's a biased article. It's called an OPINION piece for a reason. Not to mention that everyone is blatantly ignoring the column right below it that argues against this point. Also, if you people were this passionate about real problems, aka not someone's views on tattoos, the world would be a better place.
Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:14
none of you tattoo wearing people are being reasonable. you are actually acting worse than her by your hurtful words and comments. keep up the good work instilling your stereotype proving her right. your actions will really help to open her mind and make the world a better place.
Kathy from Chicago
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:10
What is this? An 8th grade writing assignment? Because it sounds like the logic (or lack thereof) of a 13-year-old.

Ya got a lot to learn yet, kid. There's a great big beautiful world out there filled with amazing and unique people. Some of them will have tattoos. Or piercings. Or blue hair. I hope that you can overcome your prejudices long enough to listen to their stories. They may just blow your mind.

Anonymous
Thu Feb 2 2012 00:09
the only thing that makes me more sad about this article, are the people attacking this girl. So she wrote some things that could be taken offensively. What are all you tattooed people going to do? Hurt her? Tearing her apart REALLY makes tattooed loving people look great. Great job proving her wrong in such a classy way! That a way to show her! I personally have no opinion, tattoos don't bother me but I don't have one. I never really thought much of the topic. But this is scary to see this much hate over such a small topic. Why don't all of you shift your anger in some other way, fight people who really mean harm and make a difference in this world.
Anonymous
Wed Feb 1 2012 23:58
I agree! this girl just had the balls to say what people who don't like tattoos are thinking. we live in a judgey world, if you can't handle the heat, don't ink yourself.
Anonymous
Wed Feb 1 2012 23:55
your all pathetic & insecure. get over yourselves. especially the moms who come on here to justify to a college kid why they got tattoos. this is a girl who got an assignment to write a counter article on an opinion piece. aka writing the opposite opinion of someone who loves tattoos. i think she did a GREAT job as a journalist turning all your pathetic tattoo loving heads. She accomplished the goal of the assignment, to get people talking. Sorry Navymom, no where in this article does it say that you are any less of a mother for having tattoos. And your story is touching and all, but no one cares. Jokes on all of you.
Anonymous
Wed Feb 1 2012 23:54
You're view of women and beauty is very superficial
PaulieWalnuts
Wed Feb 1 2012 22:50
She needs to worry less about other womens' tattoos and more about getting back in the kitchen to make my sandwich.
Anonymous
Wed Feb 1 2012 22:47
At least do some research on the issue if you're going to write about it. Tattoos have been happening for centuries on human skin. This isn't some 90s fad, this has been happening for years, whether it's the modern or tribal world. Art has been a creative expression for humans since before we were homo sapiens. Who made you the judge of what was appropriate or not? And how condescending of you to say nothing comes out of a tattoo, to tell someone that something doesn't have a value to them personally at all. Why don't you actually go to a tattoo parlor and ask them questions on why people get tattoos instead of writing something fictional? Is the younger generation too lazy to actually make an effort with an article?

And really, the newspaper wasted time and effort on this article about a female hating on other females? Aren't there real issues in the world happening? I know it's a school newspaper, but is this really what UB has come to, nowadays?

Vee
Wed Feb 1 2012 22:37
This is one of the most offensive pieces of writing I have come across recently, if not ever. As someone who has tattoos and has experienced getting both meaningful and tattoos for the sake of art; a person DOES infact gain and learn from the experience. I have learned about my limitations, about art, about an age old profession, and about what matters to me. You assume someone who has tattoos doesn't go to the gym or take care of themselves, but I run 5 miles a day and ride my bike everywhere. I have an excellent job and hair some envy. Acting like a self important brat who professes to know everything with out obviously doing any research about this topic is on fact the most classless, moronic things I have seen come from a woman in the media industry. You are not only a judgmental sheltered child, but you are a sexist mysogynist who should learn a thing or two before making such broad and unfounded statements.
JulieTotsch
Wed Feb 1 2012 22:36
Are you serious? I think some kids these days - and, yes, I consider people in their 20s to be kids - go a little too far with their tattoos. However; it isn't me to judge and it certainly isn't me to tell someone not to do something. Sure, as a woman in her 40s, I do tell kids them might regret getting a snake tattooed around their neck. I love my two little tattoos. One is on my right forearm and the other is on my left bicep. I wish the one on my left bicep was a little higher up.

I'd like to note that I have four grandsons. My tats did not prevent me from teaching my boys morals, values and manners. The very idea that having a tattoo on my body equates to not having morals or values is absurd.

By the way, I make the teddy bear on my left bicep dance and my grandsons giggle - that is surely worth having it.

Anonymous
Wed Feb 1 2012 22:05
Goes to show you don't have to be a man to be a misogynist.
Erika
Wed Feb 1 2012 20:39
I'm a woman with tattoos and I'm classy. My body is my temple and I'll decorate it as I see fit, whether I want to add more tattoos or not. My boyfriend loves them and encourages me and so do my other female friends who are also covered in ink. Believe it or not we all have self respect. Of course not everyone agrees but we don't do it for anyone, but ourselves. Say what you want about us Inked Ladies, you'll never take our shine. Good day ma'am.
Anonymous
Wed Feb 1 2012 20:23
Screw you and your assumption that anything I do to my body is to make myself look 'good' for other people or because I'm being oh-so-rebellious.

My tattoos are there because they mean something to me.

And judging by your paragraph on what an 'elegant' woman is, you're a vapid, superficial, materialistic person with the maturity of a teenager who doesn't know the first thing about the meaning of elegance. And given your judgemental attitude about women who get tattoos, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't know class if it slapped you in the face.





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