Why Put a Bumper Sticker on a Ferrari?
Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Updated: Monday, November 5, 2012 20:11
 "Photo: Spectrum file photo")
Spectrum file photo
Do you want a tattoo and/or have one already?
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
159 comments
I'm sure you've taken a verbal lashing by a few people since your article "Why Put a Bumper Sticker on a Ferrari?" so I apologize if this comes off aggressive as that is not my intention.As a woman with a few tattoos (6) I have to say that I found your article fairly insulting (giving you the benefit of the doubt, I assume this was not your intention) That being said, I also figured there would be 2 responses. People who agree with you and support your view, and people who are angry. I'm not sure if the people who do not agree with you have sent you a clear and concise reason for their anger, so I want to share mine with you so that you understand why.tattoos are a personal choice and while you can have your opinion of them, it's not very nice to imply that anyone with one is "classless" (as you put it)
to imply that women hold the "class and elegance" of the world is insulting. You have just made a blanket statement about (more than) half the population and told them they must fit into a certain cookie cutter shape because it's their job to do so.
you say that a tattoo is "vandalizing" your body and that instead you should work out, buy trendy clothes, get manicures, and hang out at the mall with your girlfriends. This surprised me the most as it appeared that you were just completely ignorant to how sexist this advice is.
you ask some interesting questions about tattoos towards the end of your article like "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?" and then finish with "Nothing comes out of getting a tattoo" I ask the same questions of your recommendations for other activities. Are you actually happier when you become a size 0? Is picking the perfect new trendy outfit challenged you? Has your manicure led you to self growth? You seem to think that a woman should only do things to herself that improve how OTHERS view her. I've gained genuine happiness from a tattoo and felt cathartic about certain ones too. Finding and working with a great artist to create something unique and representative of the message you are trying to convey (to yourself or others) is very challenging. Seeing something on your arm everyday that reinforces a message you strongly believe in or reminds you of something, someone, or someplace that was important definitely helps you with self growth.I can understand why a dolphin on somebody's bellybutton may appear "classless" but like most things, there is no accounting for taste. Perhaps someone would think that your manicure, trendy clothes, and hairstyle are classless or trashy in comparison to their own. All in all, your article seems written from the viewpoint of someone who has never got a tattoo and therefore has no idea what it's like and doesn't understand "what the fuss is about". My question to you is, did you do any research for this at all or is this completely based on your opinion?
Yes, I get great meaning out of both of mine, and will with my next one."But at the end of the day, are you really a happier person?"
Yes. A million times yes. I have these brilliant, happy reminders on me all day that I am loved, and that I love myself."Has this tattoo, for instance, caused you to learn something new about yourself?"
Yes, the design and choice forced me to look deep within myself and understand things which have had a profound influence on my life. I had to make sure that they were something I wanted permanently on my body, and when choosing something like that it forces you to understand yourself on a deeper level in every way. It forces you to evaluate not only yourself but the things which have *made* you who you are."Has it challenged you? Has it led you to self-growth?"
Above questionLots comes out of a tattoo. It can be healing. It can be profound. It can be life-affirming or life changing. It also means that you aren't afraid of people critising you for being a woman and doing what you want. Like, for instance, you. I feel sorry for you if you feel the need to judge others because you don't like their life choices. It would be great to see all your daughters get tattoos if they want them.
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