I had a long discussion with one of my brothers about tattoos, and how one of his friend was shunned because of her tattoo.
You know, in this country, at this day and age, there are still people who thinks that those people who has tattoos are “not good people.” By “not good people” they mean someone who does drug, are alcoholic, or violet and stuff like that.
I remembered when I was looking for an apartment years ago. Friends and I went to inquire for an available apartment somewhere in Pasig City. The owner of the apartment we were looking to rent interviewed us and her first question was, “Does anyone of you have tattoos?” To which we answered no and immediately followed a question of why. She told us that if any of us has tattoos, she wouldn’t rent us her apartment regardless of whether we capable of paying rent or not. She told us that a week before us, there was a rich lady with a Japanese husband who also inquired about the same apartment but she refused to rent it to her because of a tiny tattoo she has in her ankle. She said that people with tattoos often bring trouble and that they full of vices and the like. At that moment she was saying it, I wanted to slap her with a thick book. But I held it up pretty good. I have to commend my maturity of that moment, if I say so myself. This irked us and we decided not to rent her house because she’s a big fat old stereotyping bitch.
I do not have tattoos, but I have a lot of friends who has. And they are passionate, kind and beautiful people. They are not drugged addicted, alcoholic nor violent like how the old lady suggests. They simply express themselves and their creativity through their tattoos. They love their tattoos. It’s a symbol of who they are, what they wanted to be, and sometimes, a reminder of something, something to gain or something they have lost. Having people throw these kind of opinions on you often lead you to dismay and eventually, it will discourage you to have a tattoo on. And I think that’s wrong.
I think that having tattoo is supposed to be your personal choice and not some stranger’s. If you wanted to have one, go and have one. Don’t let other people bring you down. To hell with other people’s opinions. It’s your body. What you do with it, is your choice and your consequence. Having tattoo is another form of self expression. We should not be afraid of expressing ourselves. We all have our personal freedom, and we should not let society dictate how we want to live our lives and what we want to do with our bodies.
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